The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Monday arrested four more accused for admitting ineligible candidates and issuing D-Pharmacy degrees in a fraudulent manner in connivance with Registrars and officials of Punjab State Pharmacy Council (PSPC). In this regard the VB has already registered a criminal case under FIR No. 17 dated 8.12.2023 under sections 420, 465, 466, 468, 120-B of IPC at VB police station Ludhiana against former registrars and officials of PSPC for committing irregularities in facilitating admissions, registration and issuing licences of D-Pharmacy to the ineligible students studying in private colleges.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said those arrested today in this case included Gurpreet Singh Gill, Owner and Sarabjit Singh Brar, Principal of Adesh Institute of Medical Science and Research Bhatinda, R.S. Ramakodi, who has remained as principal in the year 2013 at Lala Lajpat Rai College, Sehna, in Barnala district and Baljinder Singh Bajwa, who was Principal in 2011 at Lala Lajpat College of Pharmacy Moga. In this case the VB has earlier arrested accused Parveen Kumar Bharadwaj and Dr Tejvir Singh, both former Registrars of PSPC along with Superintendent Ashok Kumar have already been arrested. In addition to this, 9 Pharmacists have also been nominated and arrested in this case.
He further informed that during investigation of this case section 409, and 467 of IPC along with sections 7, 7-A, 8, 13(1) read with 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act have also been added.
The spokesperson further added that to fill vacant seats in D-Pharmacy institutions, the owners of private colleges allegedly admitted students from other states in connivance with the above mentioned Registrars and officials of PSPC without obtaining mandatory migration certificates, accepting significant bribes from unsuspecting candidates. Moreover, several students obtained admission to the D-pharmacy course by possessing the requisite 10+2 educational qualifications in medical or non-medical streams privately whereas it has to be passed in regular classes and by attending science practicals.
The officials have been found indulged in making bribe money to owners / principals of private pharmacy colleges for getting issued forged and fabricated 10+2 certificates and D-Pharmacy certificates from different institutions and fake registration certificates from PSPC in a fraudulent manner.
He further informed that all the arrested accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow. Further investigation in this case was under progress to further scrutinize the roles of other officials, employees, and clerks of PSPC, along with individuals associated with private colleges, he added.