Kottayam: The police took a bribe of Rs 25 lakh in bid to recover Rs 70 lakh which a film producer had paid to a medical college which was later found to be unrecognised, it has been alleged. The Special Branch of state police have launched a probe.

Prakash Damodaran from Puthupally had lodged a complaint with the police that he had paid Rs 70 lakh for two medical seats at a college in Mangaluru and had sought the money back when he found out that the seats did not have a Medical Council of India (MCI) recognition. He alleged that the college, however, refused to return the money.

A controversy has erupted after the director general of police (DGP) received a complaint that a few cops from the Kottayam East Police who went to Mangaluru took the college authorities into custody secretly and made them hand over a cheque of Rs 50 lakh after intimidating them. The police grabbed a cut of Rs 25 lakh, it says.

Kottayam district police chief Harishankar announced a probe after the DGP forwarded the complaint to him. Circle inspector Saju Varghese, who conducted the probe into Damodaran's complaint, has explained to his superior that he carried out the probe as directed by the then district police chief.

“I proceeded with the case after preparing a first information report (FIR) on the basis of Damodaran's complaint. Permission was obtained from superior officers. A report was submitted to the court. The case is far from over and the probe is still on,” Varghese says.

Damodaran denies paying any bribe. “I approached the police for help to proceed with legal action against those who cornered Rs 70 lakh from me for the two MBBS seats. I have filed a case in March at the Kottayam Chief Judicial Magistrate Court about the bouncing of a cheque which the medical college authorities issued to me.”

Special Branch Dy SP Parthasarathi Pillai, who checked documents at the police station, will seek explanation from Varghese and the police personnel who went to Mangaluru for inquiries on the complaint.

How it all happened

Damodaran, maker of the megahit movie 'Classmates', had paid the Rs 70 lakh through a bank for booking MBBS seats for his twin children. The college had recognition for 150 seats, but the MCI found out that they had admitted 153. Among the three who were thrown out were Damodaran's children.

As the college refused to return the money, Damodaran lodged a complaint in November last year. Then district police chief V M Muhammad Rafeeq asked Varghese to probe the case. He filed a case against eight people, with the college proprietor as first accused. A police team headed by Varghese went to Mangaluru, but could not trace the first accused.

A middleman, who was fifth accused, was then arrested with the help of Karnataka police and brought to Kottayam. He was released on bail after he gave a cheque of Rs 50 lakh to Damodaran and promised to get the rest of the money. Damodaran filed a civil case after the cheque bounced.

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