New Delhi, Nov 27 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday conducted coordinated searches in ten states in a money laundering investigation linked to alleged bribery in granting academic sanctions to certain medical colleges to run courses, officials said.

At least 15 locations in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi are being covered.

These include seven premises of medical colleges and certain private persons. The action is being undertaken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the officials said.

The money laundering case stems from a June FIR of the CBI where it was alleged that bribes had been paid to government officials, including officials of the National Medical Commission (NMC) in lieu of disclosing confidential information pertaining to the inspection of medical colleges to the key managerial persons related to medical colleges and middlemen.

This allegedly enabled them to manipulate the parameters and obtain approval for running academic courses at the medical colleges, according to ED officials. PTI NES DV DV

Money laundering probe: coordinated searches across ten states over alleged bribery to secure medical college inspection approvals. A money laundering investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act alleges bribes were paid to procure confidential inspection information and manipulate inspection parameters so medical colleges could obtain regulatory approval; coordinated searches targeted multiple medical college and private premises across ten states to trace proceeds, identify intermediaries, and collect documentary and electronic evidence linking the corrupt approvals to alleged laundering.