Dr T R Pachamuthu, chairman and managing trustee of SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre in suburban Kattankulathur and his son Ravi, trustee, who apprehended arrest following a statement from the father of a student that he had remitted Rs 30,00,000 to the institution as capitation fee, were granted advance bail by the Madras High Court on Wednesday.
Justice R Subbiah, who granted the relief while allowing the bail applications from the father and son, said that the duo should appear before the investigating officer of the CBI between 10 am and 1 pm on April 1, 2 and 3 and thereafter as and when required.
Their counsel Abudukumar Rajarathinam contended that the university never demanded capitation fee from the students right from its inception in 2005-06, till date.
The father of the student, Manasa, had made a statement to authorities in his home state that he had paid the amount to the university as capitation fee for her MBBS admission, following which the CBI initiated an inquiry. Abudukumar contended that Manasa’s father’s claim was false. In response to a communication dated December 12 last year from the CBI, the university had submitted the files relating to the admission of Manasa on January 10 last.
However, by an order dated January 17, the CBI directed the petitioners to appear before the CBI on January 23.