Court extends judicial custody of ex-MCI prez Ketan Desai

Additional Sessions Judge O P Saini sent Desai, Kanwaljit Singh and Sukhwinder Singh to jail till June 19 after they were produced before him on the expiry of judicial remand. J P Singh, an alleged Delhi-based tout and fourth accused, has recently been granted bail by the Delhi High Court, which, however, rejected the plea of former MCI president saying his role was "far more serious" in the case.

Desai was arrested on April 22 by CBI along with three others for allegedly accepting bribe to give permission to a Punjab-based medical college to recruit a fresh batch of students without having the requisite infrastructure.

The ex-MCI president, J P Singh and doctors Sukhwinder and Kanwaljit of Patiala-based Gyan Sagar Medical College have been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act dealing with inducing a public servant to accept bribe, criminal misconduct and payment of money. Based on contents of intercepted telephonic calls made among the accused, CBI had laid a trap outside the south Delhi residence of J P Singh, which led to his arrest and that of Kanwaljit.