New twist in Dharmasthala horror: Mother seeks probe in 2003 MBBS student's disappearance; assault, silence, fear haunt her
On Tuesday evening, Sujatha Bhat, mother of medical student Ananya Bhat who went missing in 2003, filed a fresh plea with Dharmasthala police demanding a thorough investigation into her daughter's mysterious disappearance.
Speaking to reporters in Mangaluru, Sujatha said she has been living in fear for over two decades. 'If any remains are recovered and a DNA match confirms it's my daughter, I will at least be able to perform her last rites so hersoul finds peace,' she added.
Ananya, a first-year MBBS student in a college in Manipal, had travelled to Dharmasthala with her friends in 2003. She never returned. 'I was working in Kolkata in 2003,' Sujatha said.
Got little support in search: Mom
At the time, I was in Kolkata for work. I rushed back and began searching for her,' Sujatha said. She also claimed she got very little support in her search for her missing daughter.
'After being turned away by Belthangady police, I went to Dharmasthala where I was assaulted... I regained consciousness in a hospital.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
FCIMS recognition cancelled by NMC
Representative image HYDERABAD: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has revoked the recognition of Father Colombo Institute of Medical Sciences (FCIMS) in Warangal, a private medical college with 150 seats, following bribery allegations against one of its trustees in a nationwide scam involving the recognition of private medical institutions. This action follows a case filed by the CBI against Father Joseph Komareddy, who allegedly attempted to pay 66 lakh to NMC officials during an annual inspection concerning infrastructure and faculty requirements for regulatory approval. The move is part of a broader CBI investigation into corruption within the NMC. The probe has uncovered a network of intermediaries accused of securing approvals for private medical colleges through bribery. A total of 36 individuals have been named in the FIR, including two from Telangana, one based in Hyderabad, Ankam Rambabu, and another trustee of FCIMS. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad According to health department officials, although FCIMS's recognition has been withdrawn, students currently enrolled in the first and second years of MBBS programme will be permitted to continue their studies. Of the 30 medical colleges in Telangana, two are deemed universities, one has had its recognition revoked, and the admissions process for the remaining 27 private colleges will be overseen by Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS).
Mint
21 hours ago
- Mint
Lancet report calls out systemic corruption and inefficiencies at National Medical Commission
New Delhi: Lancet has criticized what it described as 'systemic corruption and inefficiencies' at the National Medical Commission (NMC) after a corruption scandal surfaced about India top medical education regulator. The prestigious medical journal's report was published on 19 July, raising concerns about the integrity of medical education and, in turn, the future quality of healthcare in the country. On 30 June, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a criminal case naming 34 individuals, including officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the NMC and a few doctors responsible for inspecting Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Nava Raipur. This happened after searches at over 40 places across five states. The CBI findings detail how government officials joined hands with private medical colleges to manipulate the regulatory process. Three NMC inspectors and three officials at the Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Nava Raipur were arrested while exchanging ₹ 55 lakh. The NMC inspectors allegedly took the bribe for approving the college. According to the CBI, health ministry officials gained unauthorized access to confidential information on the regulatory status of medical colleges, including inspection schedules and compositions of inspection teams. The information was shared with intermediaries who, in turn, alerted the medical colleges concerned. 'Such prior disclosure enabled medical colleges to orchestrate fraudulent arrangements including the bribing of assessors to secure favourable inspection reports, deployment of non-existent or proxy faculty (ghost faculty) and the admission of fictitious patients to artificially project compliance during inspections,' said the Lancet report citing the FIR filed by CBI. Lancet said that NMC "lacks a clear action plan and is hindered by centralized power and bureaucratic inefficiencies." The NMC stated on July 14 that it is taking the corruption scandal 'very seriously'. It has decided to blacklist four assessors and will not renew seats for six medical colleges for the 2025-26 academic year. The annual intake for MBBS courses in India is about 118,000. With 1·3 million registered practitioners, India has one doctor for every 1,263 people while the World Health Organization recommends one per 1000. The report said that in an effort to address the shortage of doctors, the government has launched a drive to increase MBBS places, aiming for 75,000 new seats over the next five years. 'This push has resulted in the hurried opening of new medical colleges and the expansion of existing ones. The NMC has even relaxed rules for faculty appointments to address shortages and support this expansion. Under pressure to rapidly expand undergraduate and postgraduate seats without long-term vision or adequate capacity, the NMC has increasingly mirrored the functioning of the (discredited predecessor) MCI,' the report said. The report pointed out that if NMC focuses solely on quantity, the quality of future doctors will be compromised, impacting healthcare delivery, highlighting the critical need for the NMC to uphold and enforce standards in medical education to safeguard public health in India. Commenting on the Lancet report, Dr Dilip Bhanusahli, President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), expressed deep concern about the bribery scandal within medical education. He stated that the NMC's involvement has severely damaged its image and public trust. 'IMA strongly demands strictest and time bound punishment to all the accused and institutional mechanisms to prevent such recurrence. We request the government to involve the IMA in matters of health & medical education of the country.' Concerns were also raised about new medical colleges not having enough facilities or teaching staff. Bhanusahli called for a strong law to protect healthcare workers, quick action against fake doctors, and stopping "Mixopathy" (combining different medical systems). Queries sent to the health ministry spokesperson, Lancet journal and NMC secretary remained unanswered till press time.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Miscreant forges Australian embassy documents to secure NRI seat
Bengaluru: A criminal complaint has been filed against a man on charges of producing fake documents, including an Australian embassy letter, logo, and other documents, in a bid to help a student seeking an MBBS seat through the undergraduate National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (UG-NEET). The complainant, Islauddin J Gadyal, administrative officer at Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), filed the complaint with Malleswaram police under various BNS Sections, including 318 (cheating) and 336 (forgery). According to the FIR, the suspect is identified as Raghu, a resident of Nelamangala. "The application, under the NRI quota, submitted by the student was scanned between July 14 and 17. Then, we discovered that the seal, designations of officials, and their signatures were missing in the letters claimed to have been issued by the Australian embassy. Also, one letter, which claimed to be from the Australian govt, had the Ashoka Chakra emblem at the top," stated Gadyal's complaint. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Further, the documents stated that the aspirant student was the ward of one Madhusudhan CS. According to Gadyal, the student and her father were summoned to the KEA office to get more information on the suspicious documents. "The man told us he and his daughter weren't aware of anything. One person, identified as Raghu from Nelamangala, had taken Rs 5,000 from him, promising an NRI seat for the student," Gadyal's complaint read.
