Dental Council member arrested by CBI on graft charge

CBI has arrested a member of Dental Council of India (DCI) for allegedly accepting bribe for granting approval to start a post-graduate dental course by a private college in Tamil Nadu.

Acting on an information, the investigating agency yesterday arrested DCI member Dr S Murukesan who had allegedly demanded Rs one crore as bribe and accepted Rs 25 lakh as advance, a CBI release said here.

Three functionaries of Melmaruvathur-based Adhiparasakthi Dental College and Hospital were also arrested from the DCI member's dental clinic here for allegedly offering the illegal gratification.

CBI said the college had applied to DCI for granting permission to start a PG dental course in 2012. The DCI which conducted pre-verification inspection observed certain deficiencies and asked the college to correct them.

Meanwhile, CBI came to know that the college authorities had deputed an official to approach Murukesan in connection with the approval.

Following this, CBI conducted a surprise check at the clinic and seized the bribe money of Rs 25 lakh from Murukesan's possession, CBI said.

Murukesan and three college functionaries - K Ramabadran, R Karunanidhi and T Palani - were arrested and efforts are on to apprehend college Managing Director S Srilekha.

CBI said a case had been registered and searches were being conducted at various premises of Murukesan and the college MD.

CBI had in 2010 arrested then President of Medical Council of India Ketan Desai for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs two crore to grant recognition to a medical college in Punjab.