CHENNAI, Jan 18:
Ten days after the arrest of a Dental Council of India (DCI) member Dr S Murukesan, yet another DCI member has come under the CBI scanner for demanding a bribe of Rs one crore from a private college to start Post Graduate Dental courses at suburban Melmaruvathur.
CBI sources said DCI Member Dr Gunaseelan was being questioned by the officials in connection with the graft case in which four people, including Dr Murugesan, who was a member of the DCI nominated by the Tamil Nadu government, were arrested on January eight for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from the officials of the Adi Paraskathi Dental College and Hospital.
Others arrested were former AIADMK Legislator T Palani, who had acted as a middleman, College Administrative Officer K Ramabadran and Adiparasakthi Trust Member R Karunanidhi.
After the arrest, CBI officials raided the residence and the Cranio Facial Clinic run by Dr Murugesan in the city and seized several incriminating documents that revealed his investments in various real estate properties.
Based on his questioning in CBI custody, CBI officials came to know about the alleged involvement of another DCI member Dr Gunaseelan and summoned him for questioning.
In compliance with the summons, Dr Gunaseelan appeared before the CBI for questioning today.
He was taken to an undisclosed location for questioning and to ascertain his links with Dr Murugesan.
CBI sources said a decision on arresting Dr Gunaseelan would be taken only after the outcome of his questioning.
It may be recalled that after a team from DCI had inspected the Adi Paraskathi Dental College and Hospital and refused permission to start PG courses citing lack of infrastruture and other facilities, the college management had approached Dr Murukesan with a bribe offer.
The DCI member demanded Rs one crore as bribe and agreed to collect the first instalment of Rs 25 lakh at his clinic.
Acting on information, a CBI caught them red-handed and arrested the four while the money was beng given to Dr Murukesan by the college management.
The Administrative Offier of the College Ms Srilekha was absconding and police have spread a dragnet to nab her.
CBI sources said following an application from the college, the DCI had conducted pre-verification inspection on October five last year to ascertain the availability of infrastructure and faculties as per the requisite norms for granting permission to start PG Dental Courses.
“During the Inspections, the DCI found certain deficiencies and instructed the College Principal to comply with the same”, the sources said.
The College management had deputed Ramabadran to approach Dr Murukesan for getting the DCI for the PG Course and the latter demanded Rs.One Crore for getting the DCI’s approval leading to their arrest.
A case was registered against Dr Murukesan and the Dental College represented by its Managing Director Ms S Srilekha, Ramabadran, Karunanidhi and Palani and other unknown persons for commission of offences under sections 120-B IPC, Secs 7, 12 and 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
(UNI)
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