In a high-profile corruption case that has sent ripples through the Indian medical education sector, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday arrested Dr. Tapan Kumar Jana—a senior assessor with the National Medical Commission (NMC) and a practicing doctor in West Bengal—for accepting a bribe of ₹10 lakh. The bribe was allegedly paid by representatives of a private medical college located in Belagavi, Karnataka, in exchange for a favorable inspection report.
The arrest was the result of a carefully planned operation where CBI officials caught Dr. Jana red-handed while accepting the cash bribe. The agency laid a trap based on credible intelligence, linking the bribe to efforts by the private medical institution to manipulate regulatory oversight processes and gain smoother approval.
Raids Across Three Cities: ₹54.6 Lakh in Cash and Documents Seized
Following the arrest, the CBI conducted extensive searches across Kolkata, Bardhaman, and Belagavi. The raids led to the recovery of ₹44.6 lakh in additional unaccounted cash from various premises associated with the accused. According to officials, the search also yielded incriminating documents and digital evidence believed to expose a larger conspiracy involving multiple players in the education and healthcare sectors.
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The total cash recovered from the operation amounted to ₹54.6 lakh, pointing to an organized bribery ring that may go beyond the three individuals currently named in the case.
Medical Oversight Undermined: Allegations of Regulatory Manipulation
As per the official complaint, the bribe was facilitated to influence a statutory medical inspection—an essential step in securing regulatory approval from the NMC. Dr. Jana, in his official role, allegedly assured the college that the inspection report would be positive, thereby helping the institution in bypassing procedural scrutiny.
The CBI has filed a case against three individuals—Dr. Jana, two private individuals, and the unnamed medical college. The bribe is believed to be just one instance in a wider pattern of regulatory manipulation that has plagued India’s medical education system. Investigators are now combing through seized documents and communications to trace links to other colleges or officials potentially involved.