Anti-Corruption Bureau officials on Thursday arrested Bhukya Balaji, Head of General Medicine Department at Osmania Medical College on the charge of accepting bribe from students to pass them in examinations.
The accused on Tuesday informed a few students about their poor performance in the examinations and asked them to meet on Wednesday.
“On Wednesday, Dr. Balaji took their hall-tickets and contact numbers. Further in the evening, he called the students and informed them that he was taking the risk of passing them in the exams and demanded ₹ 50,000 from each,” an Anti-Corruption Bureau official said.
When the students told him that they can’t afford to pay such a huge amount, Dr. Balaji did not agree and insisted that they pay the amount.
Further, he forwarded the photograph of a bank cheque held in the name of one Rathlavath Srinu and asked them to send the screenshot of the transaction on WhatsApp, the officer said.
Searches conducted
The students transferred ₹ 75,000 to the account of Rathlavath Srinu through Google Pay and following their complaint, the Anti-Corruption Bureau officials registered a case after preliminary enquiry and searches were conducted at the office and residence of Dr. Balaji on Thursday. The officials seized several incriminating documents showing the collection of money from medical college students and sale and purchase of properties in his name and family members.
Further, the ACB officials found that Dr Balaji and his family members own a flat worth ₹ 36 lakh, two Agriculture lands (3 acres) at Rajapur, one acre 30 gunta land in Rangareddyguda, 37 open plots worth ₹1.96 crore in Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar, Medchal-Malkajgiri districts and a car worth ₹ 9 lakh.
“He has a bank balance of ₹ 10 lakh and total property are worth ₹ 2.51 crore and the market value is approximately ₹ 6 crore,” the officer said.
