South India’s Biggest Medical Seat Scam: SRM Group Chairman Arrested

Chennai: South India’s biggest medical seat scam has hit the news with the arrest of T R Pachamuthu, chairman and managing director of SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre in Chennai under sections of IPC 406, 420, and 34 on Friday.

Tamil Nadu police arrested Pachamuthu only after the Madras High Court made harsh comments while considering a habeas corpus petition. Pachamuthu, who is the founder of Indiya Jananayaga Katchi, a major ally of BJP in Tamil Nadu in the 2016 elections, is also the owner of transport service, SRM Transports
The SRM Group of institutions, has been named as an accused in a case related to 109 complaints from medical seat seekers that they have been cheated to of Rs. 75.39 crore.

The students had complained that they had been guaranteed medical seats at SRM university but did not get admission in spite of making payment.

The medical seat scam came out when the parent of a student lodged a complaint at the Chennai police commissioner’s office, claiming that a person called S Madhan did not return the Rs 52 lakh taken from him after promising a medical seat to his son. Soon more parents lodged complaints.

Madhan, a film producer and founder of Vendhar movies, is a close associate of Pacha Muthu. It is alleged that he collected money from parents of medical seat seekers on behalf SRM Group. Madhan went missing on May 28 leaving a letter puportedly written by him stating that  he was going to Varanasi to attain ‘samadhi’. The letter alleged that the money collected from the parents has been given to the SRM group. Pachamuthu has, however, denied the claims made by Madhan.

There are reports saying that Madhan is hiding in Kerala. Chennai Police has reportedly said that he is in Nepal.

The arrest is the offshoot of a a habeas corpus petition filed by R.S.Thangam, Madhan’s mother. Madras High Court wanted to know why the police were hesitant to question the SRM group chairman. Madhan’s wife Sumalatha told the media that the SRM group was behind Madhan’s disappearance.