Patna, June 29: Ahmad Ashfaque Karim, the chairman-cum-managing director of Katihar Medical College, today confessed before police that he has seven wives and 24 children in different states.
The information came to light during Karim’s interrogation. Karim was arrested on June 15 from his Patna house for alleged involvement in an admission racket in medical colleges and was taken on a day’s remand by Patna police.
Karim told the interrogators that he has 24 children from seven wives, who stay in Calcutta, Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai, besides Patna and Katihar in Bihar. The youngest among his wives is a student at his college in Katihar. She married him three years ago and has a child.
Karim, who was shifted to the prisoners’ ward of Patna Medical College and Hospital from Beur Central Jail after he complained of restlessness and chest pain, told interrogators that he owned properties in the cities his family members stay.
“We have seized documents related to purchase of property in all metropolitan cities as well as big towns of the country. Name any big city of India, you will find his assets. He has made huge investments in real estate,” said a police officer.
Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj said the team that was sent to Katihar for further investigation has returned to the state capital. “Documents related to more assets and bank accounts were seized. The cops have come to know about 30 bank accounts,” he said.
Manu said a special team led by deputy superintendent of police (headquarters) Chandrashekhar Vidyarthi has been assigned to conduct in-depth investigation. Earlier, deputy superintendent of police (secretariat) Manish Kumar was appointed as the investigating officer.
Sources said Shastrinagar police station house officer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar has been kept out of the probe team. An FIR was lodged with the Shastrinagar police station against Karim after the recovery of over Rs 3 crore, licenced weapons and question papers of the entrance examination of the MBBS course.
Manu, however, said the former investigating officer has been changed because he (Manish) was overburdened. He said the ED would look into financial irregularities, while the district police would probe the criminal offences.
