ED Raids In Kashmir Over MBBS Seats Allotment Scam In Pakistan

The MBBS seats and some other professional admissions of J&K citizens to various colleges in Pakistan are the subjects of the raids by the ED.

In a case involving the distribution of MBBS seats in Pakistan, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted multiple searches on Thursday, including those of Hurriyat leader Qazi Yasir and Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement chairman Zaffar Bhat. 

According to sources, the Bagh-e-Mehtab neighborhood of Srinagar’s Mohammad Akbar Bhat, alias Zaffar Bhat, who serves as the chairman of the J&K Salvation Movement and is currently incarcerated, was the target of a morning raid by the local police and the central investigation agency. 

They claimed that this morning, a second team from the central investigation agency also searched the home of Hurriyat leader Qazi Yasir in the Anantnag neighborhood of Qazi Mohalla.

In connection with the distribution of MBBS seats and many other professional admissions of J&K residents to various colleges in Pakistan, according to the officials, raids are being conducted.

On July 27, 2020, a FIR was filed against the accused for allegedly working with educational consultancies to secure admission for J&K residents to MBBS and other professional programs at various colleges and universities in Pakistan.

During their investigation, the investigating agencies discovered that a sizable sum of money was received from the parents of the students in exchange for these admissions, and that the money made was allegedly used to fund terrorism in J&K.

On August 18th, 2021, the Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) division of the J&K Police detained six people, including separatist leader Zafar Akbar Bhat and a woman from Baramulla in north Kashmir. 

The arrests were made in connection with a case that had been filed in July of last year regarding the alleged racket of Hurriyat leaders selling MBBS seats and other professional courses in Pakistan and using some of the proceeds to fund militancy.

According to the police, more than 80 cases involving seats in the academic years between 2014 and 2018 were investigated, and either the students or their parents were looked at. 

Additionally, searches of about a dozen locations in the valley were conducted to look for any signs of the money’s collection and subsequent use.

“A significant portion of the money collected was set aside for personal use, according to an analysis of digital and paper receipts, bank transaction records, and other records. 

Additionally, it was established through evidence that funds had been diverted through various channels to support projects and programs related to terrorism and separatism.

According to the police, an average seat cost between 10 and 12 lakhs at the time of their investigation. On the advice of those leaders, the price was reduced in some instances.

“Based on the evidence that was available, a conservative estimate suggested that the amount of money involved might be around Rs. 4 crores annually, given that each of those leaders was given access to about 40 seats for the MBBS program each year.

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