Chennai:
Less than a week after a bailable warrant was recalled against Anbumani Ramadoss by a CBI Court in the alleged Indore-based Index Medical College approval scam, there are reports suggesting that a fresh chargesheet may be filed against the former Union Health Minister. It is an identical case involving the approval of another medical college - Rohilkhand Medical College & Hospital in Bareilly, which allegedly fell below standards set by the Medical Council of India.
But the PMK leader from Tamil Nadu, who was in charge of Health ministry in UPA-1 from 2004 to 2009, is in a combative mood. Sources have provided documents in defence of the former minister. A photocopy of a note dated October 24, 2008, allegedly from the office of Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium, states that, "I submitted that the specially appointed expert team had concluded its inspection of the Index Medical College, Indore. The report of the said expert team indicated that deficiencies were negligible. The College appears to have sufficient infrastructural facilities as well as faculty/staff strength. Based on the report of this committee, I submitted that the Central Govt. has taken the view that the permission earlier granted to Index Medical College is entirely in order. The Supreme Court took note of my submission and concluded that there was no need to disturb the permission already granted on September 26, 2008."
In another note on the subject, sent in early 2009 by the then Deputy Secretary KVS Rao in the Health & Family Welfare Department to the Prime Minister's Office, claimed that "a new team consisting of faculty from AIIMS, PGI Chandigarh and CMC Vellore was deputed for Index Medical College and Research Centre, Indore and Rohilkhand Medical College & Hospital, Bareilly. The inspection reports confirmed the adequacy of teaching faculty and other facilities at these medical colleges."
Mr Ramadoss, who told the media that he has been falsely implicated when the first chargesheet was filed, is now maintaining a low profile. While the former Union Minister may be relying on these documents to back his plea of innocence, it is not clear if it will suffice to negate the serious charge of conspiracy and abuse of power in giving the two colleges the nod for admissions.
A PMK leader says, "Anbumani took on the tobacco lobby when he was the Health Minister by bringing about the 'no smoking in public places' ban and the case against him is a conspiracy and smacks of vendetta."