Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK/DC)

Mangaluru, May 8: Congress leader and corporator A C Vinayraj on Tuesday May 8 made several allegations against the BJP candidate from Mangaluru North constituency Dr Bharath Shetty.

Addressing the media persons, Vinayraj said, "A person who wishes to be a people's representative must have good character. He should not indulge in fraud, cheating and should not stoop to low level just to attain power. But the BJP's candidate from Mangaluru North constituency does not have any of those qualities to be a people's representative."

"Bharath Shetty leads a luxurious life. In order to get power he became member of Dental Council of India by flouting the rules of the council. He is also involved in taking bribe of Rs 50 crore for the addition of 1,187 postgraduation seats," Vinayraj alleged.

"He forged documents to become the member of the Dental Council. After completing the primary membership period of Dental Council of India, Bharath Shetty renewed it illegally. As per the guidelines of the Dental Council of India, one cannot teach in two colleges, but Bharath has been working in a city-based dental college which comes under Rajiv Gandhi Health University as professor and principal since 2015. At the same time, with the help of Pacific Academic of Higher Education and Research University principal Dr Bhagwan Das from Udaipur in Rajasthan, he managed to add his name as the principal of the above college in Udaipur illegally and secure membership of Dental Council of India. He also succeeded in becoming the vice-president of the council.

"There are allegations against Bharath Shetty and Dr Bhagwan Das of taking bribe in crores from various dental colleges across India. He is said to be involved in Rs 50 crore DCI scam that happened in 2012-13. DCI retired member Dr Shaji Joseph has filed a PIL in the Kerala High Court against 7 persons including Shetty. As per the PIL over 1187 new post-graduate seats were given by taking Rs 50 crore bribes. It is also mentioned that CBI had raided Shetty in this regard," he said.

"On the other hand MLA Mohiuddin Bava has done development works in Mangaluru North and people are in his favour. I challenge Bharath Shetty to answer people on the Dental Council scams before seeking their votes," Vinayraj said.