MBBS scam in Jammu and Kashmir, ex-exam board chief surrenders

A massive MBBS exam scam has been unearthed in Jammu and Kashmir with police tightening the noose around a top official for allegedly leaking the test papers in 2012.

"Two close associates of Mushtaq Ahmad Peer, the then chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Exams (JKBOPEE), allegedly sold the test papers to over a dozen candidates," a Crime Branch official said.

The official said that accepting huge sums of money from the parents of the candidates, JKBOPEE officials set up a special exam centre for them in a hotel on Boulevard Road in Srinagar.

The former JKBOPEE chairman surrendered before the Crime Branch on Wednesday.

"He was avoiding arrest for some days but this morning, he surrendered," said the official.

Police had been raiding his houses in Srinagar and Jammu for the past few days. Peer's conduct was under their scanner for a long time.

However, it was only after one of his two close associates started spilling the beans that the Crime Branch began the raids.

Sources in the probe team said Peer allegedly sold Common Entrance Test (CET) papers for lakhs of rupees to two brokers -- Sajid Hussain and Farooq Ahmed -- who in turn took crores of rupees from parents of many students.

Bank accounts and records of peer's properties and his associates are being examined.

A case has been registered following complaints about the selections process in BOPEE in 2012.

Interestingly, Peer was given an extension after his retirement and reemployed as an expert in the Services Selection Board.

The state government did this despite voices coming out against his conduct during his tenure as BOPEE chairman.
Courtesy:
Shuja-ul-Haq   |   Headlines Today  |   Srinagar, November 20, 2013 | UPDATED 16:57 IST
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kashmir-mbbs-kashmir-mbbs-munnabhai-medical-entrance-test-kashmir/1/325680.html

‘CPM leader son brain behind MBBS scam’

Kollam: The CPM is on the defensive after Kavitha Pillai, the medical seat scam accused, gave a statement to the police that the son of a CPM leader is the  brain behind the scam.

Rash Lal, son of former Kollam district committee member D. Radhakrishnan, is the prime accused in the scam, according to Kavitha’s statement.
Police said Rash Lal had taken money from 60 persons promising seats. A look-out notice has been issued for him.

Radhakrishnan, according to sources, is a supporter of the Pinarayi Vijayan faction in the party, though he was earlier with the VS faction. In 2005, when he was a district committee member, his son  got involved in a spirit case, leading to his  losing his membership in the district committee.

The Kollam DCC has used this opportunity to attack the LDF.  “Why is the LDF not responding to this scam after creating an uproar over the  Saritha issue? It should come up with its response at the earliest,” said Prathapavarma Thampan, Kollam DCC president. Kavitha Pillai is likely to be produced in a Kollam court on Friday.
Courtesy:
DC | 15th Nov 2013
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/131115/news-current-affairs/article/%E2%80%98cpm-leader-son-brain-behind-mbbs-scam%E2%80%99