CBI Names Rawatpura Sarkar in ₹55 Lakh Bribery Scam: Medical Colleges Under Fire
Spiritual leader Rawatpura Sarkar, top officials, and doctors linked to multi-crore corruption network involving fake inspections across India
Raipur, July 3: In Raipur and across Chhattisgarh, folks know Rawatpura Sarkar not just as a spiritual figure but as someone whose reach touches government corridors, police stations, and now, it seems, the middle of a ₹55 lakh bribe trail that the CBI has just ripped wide open. The godman—real name Ravishankar Maharaj—has long been seen as untouchable. But now his name sits right there in a CBI FIR, alongside ex-UGC heads and medical commission officials, all accused of helping medical colleges cheat inspections.
What Actually Happened On The Ground
It all started with whispers. Then a trap. CBI officers—some dressed as institute staff—nabbed six men red-handed in Raipur, including three senior doctors from the National Medical Commission. They were reportedly there to “inspect” the Sri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (SRIMSR). Instead, they walked away with a suitcase full of cash—₹55 lakh, according to officers who were part of the sting. That moment blew the lid off what the agency now says could be one of the biggest medical scams India’s seen.
Ask any parent trying to get their kid into a good MBBS college in this part of the country, and they’ll tell you—it’s not just merit that counts. It’s money. Influence. “Adjustment.” What the CBI has now shown is just how deep that culture runs.
A Scam Bigger Than Anyone Thought
This isn’t just about one bribe or one college. According to the CBI, colleges across eight states—Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Andhra, UP, Karnataka—were paying big bucks to make sure their “inspections” passed smoothly. Some paid through banks. Others sent cash via hawala routes. Amounts ranged from ₹50 lakh to ₹4 crore per college, depending on how badly they needed to fudge faculty numbers or infrastructure.
Most of these are private colleges in tier-2 or tier-3 towns—often the only shot local kids have at a medical seat. But according to the CBI, the colleges weren’t even trying to meet the norms. Instead, they just paid to “look” compliant. Dummy patients. Teachers who didn’t exist. Infrastructure that looked shiny just for one day.
And at the centre of this mess? Rawatpura’s name is right there in black and white.
The Godman’s Quiet Grip On Power
In Chhattisgarh, Rawatpura Sarkar isn’t just a face on hoardings. His ashrams and schools are scattered across tribal belts, and political leaders—cutting across parties—line up to touch his feet at events. Photos have now surfaced of him with senior IAS and IPS officers. That’s raised one big question: who was shielding him all this while?
In hushed tones, even bureaucrats admit the man had clout. Some say he helped post officers to “comfortable” spots. Others talk about land deals that moved with a single phone call. Now that he’s been named, though, not a single leader has come out in his defence—not yet.
He hasn’t spoken either. His trust is tight-lipped. No denials, no explanations. Just silence.
What Happens Next?
As of now, only one arrest from his side—Atul Tiwari, a director at SRIMSR. But the real question is: will Rawatpura himself be summoned? Arrested? Or will this go the way of so many other high-profile scandals—brief noise, then forgotten?
Sources say more raids are on the way. Phones, laptops, ledgers—everything’s being pulled in for forensic checks. There’s even talk that the CBI might open new cases in Indore, Hyderabad, and Delhi, depending on what comes out of the seized documents.
CBI officers are saying little, but those close to the case believe this could be just the first chapter. With DP Singh (former UGC chief and now TISS chancellor) also named, this is no longer just about Chhattisgarh. It’s national.
What Locals Are Saying
In Raipur, there’s a mix of anger and disbelief. Some can’t believe Rawatpura’s name is in such a mess. Others say it was bound to happen—“Too many powerful people were getting away with too much for too long,” says Vinod Verma, a local journalist who’s covered the godman for years.
Outside the SRIMSR gates, students stood quietly on Tuesday. Some scared. Others stunned. One second-year MBBS student, not willing to be named, said, “If this gets worse, what happens to our degree?”
That’s the real tragedy. The scam isn’t just about money or power. It’s about thousands of students, mostly from middle-class families, now wondering if their futures were built on a lie.
For now, the godman is quiet. But the city is buzzing.
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Ravi Juneja is a student journalist currently pursuing his degree from Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication. With a passion for factual reporting and public interest stories, he covers a wide spectrum of news at Hindustan Herald, including politics, health, technology, entertainment, and global affairs. Ravi is committed to delivering balanced, research-backed journalism with a strong sense of responsibility and independence.
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- Ravi Junejahttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/ravi/
- Ravi Junejahttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/ravi/
- Ravi Junejahttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/ravi/
