PCI chief Montu Patel looted Rs 5,000 crore : Nagpur Pharmacist

Ahmedabad/Delhi —In a major crackdown on alleged high-level corruption in India’s pharmaceutical education sector, the CBI raided the Delhi and Ahmedabad premises of Montu Patel, the Chairman of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), late Wednesday night.

According to a report published in Divya Bhaskar quoting Ajay Soni, a pharmacist from Nagpur,  Patel, who is currently absconding, stands accused of orchestrating a scam exceeding ₹5000 crore, exploiting his position for personal and political gain.

Montu Patel—India’s youngest-ever PCI chairman and the first from Gujarat—has been under scrutiny for collecting hefty bribes for college approvals, manipulating council memberships, and acquiring properties worth crores without legitimate justification. Despite his affiliation with the BJP’s Yuva Morcha, Patel is now at the center of what is being called one of the biggest scams in India’s pharmacy education history.

“Montu Patel looted ₹5000 crore in a single year” – Ajay SoniPCI

Ajay Soni, a pharmacist from Nagpur and editor of Pharmacist Times, who has long campaigned against corruption in the PCI, said,“In 2022-23 alone, Montu Patel looted more than ₹5000 crore. He collected bribes of ₹18 to ₹45 lakh for new college permissions and course extensions. This has destroyed the integrity of pharma education in the country.”

Soni alleges that Patel exploited both Gujarat and Diu-Daman memberships to maintain his position illegally—a violation of the Pharmacy Act, which allows only one state membership at a time.

“He never resigned from Gujarat before getting nominated from Diu-Daman. This is a clear breach of the law,” Soni added.

Massive Property Purchases Raise Red Flags

Soni further revealed, “Montu Patel purchased a ₹117 crore office in Delhi’s World Trade Center, even though PCI already had a spacious office in Okhla. He also bought a ₹17 crore bungalow. When you do the math, ₹5-6 crore from each deal likely went into kickbacks.”

He added, “Montu also hired over 100 unnecessary staff, maintains five luxury cars and three personal drivers—all paid by PCI.”

Political Protection Alleged, Congress Name Dragged In

In a startling revelation, Soni claimed, “A senior Congress leader is helping Patel and has property worth ₹300 crore in his name. While I lack documentary proof, insiders say this leader is shielding Patel.”

He slammed both the BJP and Congress, alleging cross-party corruption, stating, “BJP continues to trust Patel and uses him to pressure college managements, while Congress helps him evade accountability. This nexus is harming pharma education.”

CBI Raids, Evidence Seized, Patel Missing

Seven CBI officers reportedly raided PCI’s Delhi office, seizing computer files and documents. Montu Patel and his driver were untraceable and their phones remain switched off.

“How did he become chairman if he isn’t a member?” – Rajesh Patel

Rajesh Patel, ex-secretary of the Gujarat Pharmacy Association and part of the Pharmacy Hetarakshak Committee, raised a key question, “Montu Patel hasn’t held a valid council membership in any state for over a year. How can he continue as chairman? This is institutional fraud.”