The National Medical Commission (NMC) has struck off Indore’s Index Medical College from the 2025 MBBS admission list, declaring it a ‘zero year’. This action stems from a CBI investigation into serious corruption and bribery involving college chairman Suresh Bhadoria. The college’s 250 MBBS seats will remain vacant this academic year.
Bhadoria, previously jailed in a 2006-07 recognition scandal, was again accused by the CBI in the Ravetpura Institute bribery case. His involvement in faking faculty data, inflating patient numbers for Ayushman Bharat funds, and manipulating biometric attendance systems led to the NMC’s severe action. MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) has removed the college from its counseling list as per the NMC directive.
Financial Blow Estimated at ₹250 Crore
Index Medical College charges around ₹18 lakh annually per student. With 250 MBBS seats and a 5-year course duration, the estimated loss due to this zero-year decision amounts to ₹250 crore. This loss is compounded by the long-term reputational damage the institution faces due to persistent irregularities.
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NMC’s directive to debar admissions was based on proven cases of fraud, including Bhadoria submitting false documents and appointing temporary staff as full-time faculty to meet regulatory standards. The commission also found biometric tampering under the Aadhaar-enabled attendance system (AEBAS), with evidence of cloned fingerprints to simulate faculty presence.
Web of Influence, Bribes, and Fake Degrees
The CBI’s report revealed an intricate nexus between Bhadoria and senior Health Ministry officials like Chandan Kumar and Rahul Srivastava. These officers were accused of sharing confidential internal memos, recommendations, and comments with Bhadoria in exchange for bribes.
Bhadoria, who controls the Index Group of Institutions and the parent Mayank Welfare Society, reportedly used his influence to issue fake undergraduate, postgraduate, and even PhD degrees through affiliated institutions like Malwanchal University. He also exploited Ayushman Bharat by faking patient records to claim funds, while using dummy faculty and ghost patients to maintain regulatory compliance.
Fallout Spreads: Other Colleges Also Penalized
The crackdown didn’t stop at Index. Several other medical colleges named in the same CBI investigation have been penalized. LNCT Medical College in Indore has had its seat count reduced by 50. Additionally, institutions in Raipur and Rajasthan’s Udaipur, like the Geetanjali Medical College, have been marked for ‘zero year’ status.
The scandal underscores deep-rooted corruption in medical college approvals, exposing how regulatory inspections and recognition processes were allegedly manipulated. The NMC and CBI actions signal a renewed focus on transparency and compliance, warning institutions nationwide of the consequences of malpractice.