Kalahandi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken over the investigation into financial irregularities at Sardar Rajas Medical College and Hospital in Odisha’s Kalahandi district.

According to reports, the Tamil Nadu-based Selvam Educational and Charitable Trust which was running the medical college, has allegedly misappropriated the amount it received from the State government to complete infrastructural development for smooth running of the facility.

The trust had collected a big amount from 124 students as caution money by submitting fake documents to obtain permission from MCI for admission in MBBS course for two academic years i.e. 2013-14 & 2014-15.

The Selvam Educational and Charitable Trust had signed a MoU with Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) to establish a medical college at Jaring in Kalahandi.

As per the MoU, WODC had provided Rs 10 Crores and 25 acres of government land to the Trust. Even after getting all the benefits from government, the Trust managed by Raja failed to complete infrastructural development for smooth running of the hospital and medical college.

In August last year, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Odisha Crime Branch had arrested A. Johnsel Raja (54), managing trustee of Tamil Nadu-based Selvam Educational and Charitable Trust which was running the medical college.

Raja was arrested on July 26 on charges of criminal breach of trust and cheating. He has been brought to Odisha by the agency in transit remand and taken for production before the JMFC, Junagarh, Kalahandi.

The Odisha government had in 2015 lodged an FIR against Raja at the Junagarh police station. The WODC also lodged a complaint accusing him of violating the MoU, fraudulent documentation and playing with the future of hundreds of medical students.