CBI court issues warrant against former Medical Council President Desai

New Delhi, Sep 2 (ANI): A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in New Delhi issued a fresh production warrant against former President of the Medical Council of India (MCI), Ketan Desai, on Thursday after Kolkata jail authorities failed to produce him for his alleged role in a bribery case involving over Rs 20 million.

"Issue fresh production warrant for accused Ketan Desai to the Superintendent, Alipore Jail in Kolkata for September 9. The jail superintendent is directed to comply with the order," said Special CBI Judge O P Saini.

The orders of the court following a CBI application seeking fresh production warrant against Desai, who was earlier taken to Kolkata by the investigators in connection with the ongoing probe.

The court also asked the prison authorities to ensure Desai's presence on September 9, which happens to be the next date of hearing.

Earlier, the court had dismissed Desai's bail plea in the disproportionate assets (DA) case saying he cannot be released on bail, as the offence was serious.

The CBI arrested Desai on April 22 for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs two crore to give permission to a Punjab medical college to recruit a fresh batch of students without having requisite infrastructure.

Besides Desai, three other accomplices, middleman Jitendar Pal Singh, Kamaljeet Singh, a faculty member of Gyan Sagar Medical College, and the college"s Vice Chairman Sukhvinder Singh, were also arrested.

CBI also conducted raids in Punjab and Gujarat to trace Desai's other associates and the assets he has acquired.

This is not the first time Desai has been accused of corruption.

In 2001, he had stepped down as MCI president after the Delhi High Court indicted him on corruption charges. (ANI)