Pune, August 9, 2023: The Dean of Pune Municipal Corporation’s Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College, Ashish Banginwar, has been caught in a bribery scandal, triggering serious doubts about the college’s administration. This incident has led to questions about the institution’s functioning, while the municipal administration has stated that their role is limited to providing infrastructure and not overseeing the college’s admission process.
The college, established under the Pune Municipal Medical Education Trust, has a board of trustees consisting of the Mayor as the ex-officio chairman, along with representatives from various political parties, officials, and a total of 20 members. The trusteeship was handed to administrators due to the delay in municipal elections, with Commissioner Vikram Kumar taking on the role of chairman for the trust.
Despite an investment of around Rs 650 crore in setting up the medical college, recent revelations have raised concerns that the administration’s approach to the college’s operation is too lax, with allegations that admission matters fall outside their responsibilities.
The medical college was approved in the 2021-22 period and began operations at Sanas School in Mangalwar Peth, near the PMC-run Kamla Nehru Hospital. The college is now in its third year of operation. Ashish Banginwar was given considerable autonomy to ensure the institution’s smooth establishment and operation.
However, the recent bribery scandal has cast a shadow on the college’s management. Banginwar was caught accepting the first installment of a Rs 10 lakh bribe, allegedly in exchange for facilitating MBBS admission.
Trustee of the Pune Municipal Medical Education Trust, Additional Municipal Commissioner Ravindra Binwade, stated, “The admission process of the college has nothing to do with the Pune Municipal Corporation. We only provide infrastructure. All other decisions were taken by the dean; not a single document was given to the Municipal Corporation. Admissions to this place are done as per the rules of the National Medical Council (NMC).”
The Pune Municipal Medical College has an annual intake capacity of 100 seats, out of which 15 percent (15 seats) are reserved for the management (institutional) and NRI quotas. Allegations have arisen regarding the transparency of seat allocation through these quotas.
In contrast, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Medical College has abolished the management quota and decided to allocate all seats based solely on merit. The retention of the quota system by the Pune Municipal Corporation has raised concerns of corruption, prompting calls for a thorough investigation into the matter.
Former corporator Pallavi Javale has alleged that in the year 2021-22, 22 seats were filled through the management quota, exceeding the designated 15 percent. This discrepancy has led to inquiries and the demand for a comprehensive investigation.
The Pune Municipal Medical Education Trust, initially intended to be overseen by elected officials, is currently managed by appointed officers, which has fueled concerns about the transparency and accountability of the college’s administration.
