SRM Group chief Pachamuthu gets bail in MBBS admission case

CHENNAI: Twelve days after his arrest, founder chairman of SRM Group of educational institutions T R Pachamuthu was today granted conditional bail by a court here in the MBBS admission scam case allegedly involving over Rs 70 crore.

Granting bail, Principal Sessions Judge G Jayachandran directed Pachamuthu to deposit Rs 75 crore in the IX Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Saidapet, where the trial is set to be held in the case.

The judge also asked him to submit a personal bond of Rs 10 lakh, two other sureties of like sum and surrender his passport.

Pachamuthu was directed to appear before the investigation officer daily at 10.30 AM until further orders.

The case relates to complaints from 111 parents who had alleged that they had paid Rs 74 crore to get admission for their wards in MBBS courses run by SRM Group of institutions through film producer Madan, perceived to be close to Pachamuthu.

Madan mysteriously disappeared on May 26, leaving behind a note that he was going to end his life in Varansai by drowning.

Pachamuthu was arrested on August 26 after the Madras High Court asked the Central Crime Branch of police -- which was probing the complaints of parents as to why the SRM founder had not been questioned in the case.