Reconsider role of Ketan Desai as IMA chief patron to 'preserve' integrity: FAIMA urges doctors' body

New Delhi: The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) on Sunday wrote to Indian Medical Association requesting the medical body to "reconsider" Ketan Desai's role as the chief patron at IMA. It raised concerns about electoral integrity and alleged corruption within the association.

"As the Chief Election Commissioner, we urge you to investigate these matters thoroughly and take immediate action to rectify any irregularities. Additionally, we believe it is imperative to reconsider Dr Ketan Desai's role as Chief Patron to preserve the integrity of the IMA," the letter read.

Desai was arrested by the CBI in 2010, who was then the president of Medical Council of India, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 2 crore to grant recognition to a medical college in Punjab.

In 2016, he was elected as the president of World Medical Association after IMA informed the medical body that all charges against Desai had been withdrawn.

Further, FAIMA said in the letter that the governing body had become aware that significant sums of money were collected from members for nominations, yet many key positions were filled without any election, as they were unopposed.

"As the Chief Election Commissioner, we urge you to investigate these matters thoroughly and take immediate action to rectify any irregularities," it said.

Earlier, Dr Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College, was suspended from the IMA on August 22, amidst an ongoing CBI investigation against him.