Graft case: Court to frame charges against Anbumani Ramadoss on December 10

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court today fixed December 10 for framing charges against former Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss and several others in two separate graft cases related to alleged favours to medical colleges, after it was informed that the matter is before the Supreme Court.

"It is submitted that an appeal has been filed in Supreme Court against Delhi High Court order on the matter of framing of charges," Special CBI Judge Ajay Kumar Jain noted in the order.

The court, which was scheduled to frame charges against the accused today, was apprised by the counsel representing Ramadoss that they have approached the apex court after the Delhi high court had refused to stay the framing of charges.

The high court had on October 20 dismissed a plea filed by Ramadoss seeking stay of the proceedings before the trial court in both the cases.

During today's proceeding, the prosecution also moved an application for addition of offences under sections 420 (cheating) read with 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record), 467 (forgery of the valuable security, will, etc.) and 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) of IPC against the accused.

On October 7, the court had ordered framing of charges against Ramadoss and others for various alleged offences including criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery for the purpose of cheating and using forged documents as genuine under the IPC and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act relating to public servant abusing official position.

Ramadoss was the Union Health Minister from May 2004 till April 2009 in the UPA-I government.

The two graft cases relate to alleged favours shown by Ramadoss and other accused to a private medical college, Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital (RMCH), Bareilly, in Uttar Pradesh and Indore-based Index Medical College Hospital and Research Centre (IMCHRC).