Pune Municipal Corporation’s Medical College Dean Caught Accepting Rs 10 Lakh Bribe for MBBS Admission ; Probe On

PUNE: A shocking incident has come to the light, revealing a distressing case of corruption within the educational sector. The dean of a newly established medical college under the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) was apprehended while soliciting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh in exchange for facilitating admission. The apprehension took place at the Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College during a sting operation conducted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

The accused has been identified as Ashish Srinath Banginwar, aged 54, who holds the position of Dean at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College. The ACB swiftly intervened and caught the dean red-handed in the act of accepting the bribe. Subsequently, an FIR has been registered at the Samarth police station based on a complaint filed by a 49-year-old doctor from Pune. Ashish Srinath Banginwar, besides being the dean of the medical college, is also a respected senior doctor in Pune.

The genesis of this unfortunate incident lies in the admission process for the academic year 2023. The plaintiff’s son, having successfully cleared the NEET exam, secured a place in the institutional quota at the Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College, which falls under the purview of the Pune Municipal Corporation Medical Education Trust. His admission to the MBBS program was facilitated through the first cap round of Maharashtra’s admission process.

According to established guidelines, the annual admission fee for the program amounted to Rs 22.50 lakh. Shockingly, Dean Ashish Banginwar allegedly demanded an illicit sum of Rs 16 lakh in addition to the legitimate fee for ensuring the admission. The concerned plaintiff, recognizing the gravity of the situation, filed a formal complaint with the Pune ACB, which promptly initiated an investigation.

Subsequent scrutiny of the complaint unveiled the disturbing truth: a bribe of Rs 16 lakh was allegedly solicited in exchange for securing the coveted MBBS admission. This revelation underscores the urgent need for transparent and ethical practices within the realm of educational institutions, emphasizing the significance of upholding integrity and fairness in the pursuit of higher education.

Madhupriya Dhanwate