In connection with a corruption investigation involving millions of dollars in illicit funds at the Karakonam Somervell Memorial CSI Medical College Hospital, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge sheet. The allegations of bribery and money laundering under the direction of Dharmaraj Rasalam, the former CSI Bishop, are clarified by this case. The ED claims that Rasalam promised parents MBBS seats at the medical college in exchange for accepting a bribe of Rs 7 crore.
The charge document further names Bennett Abraham, the director of the institution, TT Praveen, the previous Sabha secretary, P Thankaraj, the former finance controller, and Clerk PL Shiji as those who were actively involved in the crime.
One of Kerala’s first four private medical colleges is Karakonam Somervell Memorial CSI Medical College Hospital. The South Kerala Diocese (SKD), a division of the Church of South India (CSI), owns it through the South Kerala Medical Mission (SKMM). Situated near Karakonam, the college is roughly 35 kilometers south of Trivandrum City.
The 1508-page charge sheet was submitted to the Kaloor, Ernakulam, court in accordance with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The case was initially looked into by the Kerala Police Crime Branch, but Rasalam and other high-ranking Church leaders were not named in their charge sheet. Due to this, the deceived parents went to the Kerala High Court (HC), which ordered the ED to take up the case that had been originally filed by the Vellarada police in Thiruvananthapuram.
The complaint centers on claims that 28 children’s parents were given Rs 7.22 crore in exchange for hospital admissions—promises that were later broken. When the Crime Branch filed a case based on the parents’ complaint, the college administration made an effort to settle the issue by giving the money back. All persons impacted by the dispute were not, however, paid by the church, and a large amount of the funds raised were allegedly utilized to build other church facilities.
The main focus of the case is money laundering that occurs overseas after accepting bribes to get admission to the CSI Medical College. Bishop Rasalam had not been included in the list of accused when the High Court first overturned the charge sheet that the Crime Branch had submitted. The ED then assumed control of the inquiry. They repeatedly interrogated the accused and carried out raids at Abraham’s home, the Bishop House headquarters, and Karakonam Medical College, among other places. Important witnesses in this case include a number of medical college employees and the parents who experienced financial losses.
According to the inquiry, the accused broke foreign exchange regulations by accepting bribes and laundering illicit funds. Rasalam made an effort to go to England in July 2022 after being questioned by the ED. But on orders from ED officers, immigration officials at Thiruvananthapuram Airport stopped him from leaving.
Abraham and Rasalam are well-connected in Kerala politics. Rasalam has a special bond with former Thiruvanthapuram Congress Member Shashi Tharoor, whereas Abraham ran for parliament in 2014 on a Communist Party of India (CPI) platform.
Investigations conducted in 2020 by Kerala’s Admission and Supervisory Committee for Medical Education found that applicants from Tamil Nadu, who are ineligible for admission to Kerala’s medical programs, paid outrageous sums of money—up to Rs 60 lakh—for admittance.
These concerns were allegedly brought to light by a conflict inside the CSI. The State police’s decision to not detain Bishop and the other accused parties was questioned by the High Court. Concerns were voiced by Justice P V Kunhikrishnan regarding the investigating officer’s unwillingness to make any arrests. Political factors certainly played a role in the Kerala government’s apparent lack of forbearance in responding to complaints against church leaders.
The administrative body of the CSI Church has declared that it will take legal action against the parties concerned. Abraham still serves as the Director of Karakonam Medical College, while Praveen and Rasalam have left the company.
In relation to the case, the ED has seized Rs 95 lakh, with the intention of returning it to the victims who endured financial hardships.
The Church of South India (CSI) runs thousands of schools, many colleges, and about 104 hospitals. It claims to have 40 lakh members and has converted a large number of Hindus. It is the second-largest Christian church in India in terms of membership.
This case serves as a reminder of the difficulties and complications that exist in the healthcare and education sectors, particularly with regard to matters of corruption and bribery, which can have far-reaching effects on the parties concerned.
SOURCE:
MEDICAL DIALOGUES
