Chief Minister (CM) Bhupesh Baghel-led Chhattisgarh state government is planning to take over, via a law, a financially-strapped private medical college that is owned by the family in which CM Baghel’s daughter is married. The move has raised various questions regarding conflict of interest.

The Chandrakar Memorial Medical College in Durg was set up in the memory of former Union Minister and Congress leader Chandulal Chandrakar.

A private company named Chandulal Chandrakar Memorial Hospital (CCMH) owns the concerned college. Mangal Prasad Candrakar is the Director of CCMH.

CM Baghel’s daughter, Divya Baghel, is married to Kshitij Chandrakar. Kshitij’s father is Vijay Chandrakar, who is the younger brother of Mangal Prasad Chandrakar.

As per the given draft bill, the state government will carry out a valuation exercise of the college’s movable as well as immovable assets and then pay the required amount to CCMH. The company will continue to own the liabilities of the college.

Apparently, CCMH holds total outstanding debt is worth Rs 125 crore and the majority part of it is unsecured. Furthermore, the Medical Council of India has accused this medical college of committing fraudulent activities and it does not even have recognition since 2017, Indian Express reports.

Yet, the Chhattisgarh government maintains that the immediate acquisition of the college is “necessary in public interest.”