Med students lose year after paying for seats
Rs 55 lakh ‘donation’ to Sapthagiri was outbid by other MBBS hopefuls.
Three medical aspirants have approached the Magistrate Court in Bangalore after losing their academic year, in a bet to secure a medical seat at the Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre. They are among several others from across the country, who paid huge ‘donations’ to the college but weren’t admitted—after the seats were allegedly allotted to even higher bidders.
The three 18-year-olds, Srushti Patil from Buldana, and Kashinathgauda Patil and Veeresh Mantrannavar from Belgaum applied to out-of-state Sapthagiri when the cut-off date for admission – October 1 – approached and anxieties mounted.
The applicants then found out that the Medical Council of India (MCI) had not renewed Sapthagiri’s annual registration. The college took the matter to the High Court and was granted an extension on their admission cut-off, till October 9.
“Since the admission cut-off date by MCI was October 1, the college haphazardly sold the medical seats assuming that they had only two days. When they got an extension, they upped their prices and some seats were sold for more than Rs 1 crore,” alleged Jumbad. His niece and her two friends had secured admission in the early scramble. “Suddenly after a few days, we were told that we did not have any medical seat,” said Jumbad.
The complainants have written to the health minister and MCI, and sent a consumer court notice to the college. In a reply to the notice, the college authorities stated that the allegations are false and baseless. “The college was having an unprecedented demand and rush from students for admission to the MBBS course for academic year 2015-16, which had to be completed before October 9. Your clients were unable to furnish certain original documents.”
The complainants contest this, saying the college is holding on to their original documents. “Due to their callous attitude, we have lost our year. It is extremely distressing,” said Kashinathgauda, “It is our future.” Srushti’s mother Vandana said the episode has left her daughter severely depressed. “We have been sending her for counseling.” They are advocating stringent action against the college.
When Mumbai Mirror contacted college principal Jayanthi V, she refused to comment.
Three medical aspirants have approached the Magistrate Court in Bangalore after losing their academic year, in a bet to secure a medical seat at the Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre. They are among several others from across the country, who paid huge ‘donations’ to the college but weren’t admitted—after the seats were allegedly allotted to even higher bidders.
The three 18-year-olds, Srushti Patil from Buldana, and Kashinathgauda Patil and Veeresh Mantrannavar from Belgaum applied to out-of-state Sapthagiri when the cut-off date for admission – October 1 – approached and anxieties mounted.
“The donation for the seat was quoted as Rs 55 lakh and Rs 20 lakh was quoted as the college fees,” said Dr Dhiraj Jumbad, Srusthi’s uncle. Jumbad, a radiologist based in Andheri, claims the college introduced the family to an agent. The first year’s fee, Rs 4.88 lakh was paid by demand draft and Rs 43.75 lakh was given to the agent in cash. The other families transferred similar amounts through real-time net-banking transfers.
The applicants then found out that the Medical Council of India (MCI) had not renewed Sapthagiri’s annual registration. The college took the matter to the High Court and was granted an extension on their admission cut-off, till October 9.
“Since the admission cut-off date by MCI was October 1, the college haphazardly sold the medical seats assuming that they had only two days. When they got an extension, they upped their prices and some seats were sold for more than Rs 1 crore,” alleged Jumbad. His niece and her two friends had secured admission in the early scramble. “Suddenly after a few days, we were told that we did not have any medical seat,” said Jumbad.
The complainants have written to the health minister and MCI, and sent a consumer court notice to the college. In a reply to the notice, the college authorities stated that the allegations are false and baseless. “The college was having an unprecedented demand and rush from students for admission to the MBBS course for academic year 2015-16, which had to be completed before October 9. Your clients were unable to furnish certain original documents.”
The complainants contest this, saying the college is holding on to their original documents. “Due to their callous attitude, we have lost our year. It is extremely distressing,” said Kashinathgauda, “It is our future.” Srushti’s mother Vandana said the episode has left her daughter severely depressed. “We have been sending her for counseling.” They are advocating stringent action against the college.
When Mumbai Mirror contacted college principal Jayanthi V, she refused to comment.
