Congress seeks judicial probe into medical scam in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, July 26 (IANS) The Congress party in Kerala on Wednesday demanded a judicial probe by a Supreme Court judge into what they claim is a Rs 1,000 crore medical scam allegedly involving national leaders of the BJP.

Addressing reporters here, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said national leaders of the BJP, besides officials of the Medical Council of India, granted or gave additional seats to 70 medical colleges in the country.

Chennithala said the corruption is to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore.

Last week, it was alleged that a private medical college owner in Kerala paid Rs 5.60 crore to a local BJP leader. An internal party committee probe of the BJP pointed to Cooperative Cell Convenor R.S. Vinod as the one involved. Vinod was ousted from the party.

"Since this is a national scam in which national leaders of the BJP are involved, a probe by a central agency won’t suffice. It has to be a judicial probe by a sitting Supreme Court judge.

"Several colleges which paid the bribe got approval and those that did not pay the bribe, did not get approvals. I will discuss this issue with my national party leaders and take it forward. We will also seek legal opinion to fight it legally," said Chennithala.