₹30 Crore Stipend Scam Unearthed at Kalaburagi’s MRMC: ED Raids Key Figures

Kalaburagi, Karnataka – A major financial scandal has surfaced at Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College (MRMC), where the Enforcement Directorate (ED) suspects that over ₹30 crore was siphoned from funds meant for postgraduate student stipends.

According to a statement released by the ED’s Bengaluru Zonal Office on Monday, raids were carried out at seven locations linked to MRMC on April 30, May 1, and May 3. These included the residences and offices of Bhimashankar Bilgundi, former president of the Hyderabad-Karnataka Education Society (HKE); former MRMC dean Dr S M Patel; and accountant Subhash Chandra.

The investigation stems from an FIR filed by the Cyber, Economics and Narcotics (CEN) Cell in Kalaburagi. The complaint alleges that Bilgundi, Patel, Chandra, and the manager of the Canara Bank branch associated with MRMC embezzled ₹81.21 crore. This amount was earmarked for 282 postgraduate students between January 1, 2018, and March 1, 2024.

During the raids, officials seized substantial digital evidence, including Excel files containing sensitive data. These records showed blank cheques allegedly signed by students and the subsequent cash withdrawals made by college management from the students’ accounts.

The ED is now pursuing further leads, and the case has drawn public attention to the need for transparency in educational fund allocations.

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