Maoist funding case: Madras High Court Refuses MBBS Graduate’s Plea for Degree Certificate
In a significant ruling on June 17, 2026, the Madras High Court dismissed an appeal by an MBBS graduate seeking release of her Course Completion Certificate and MBBS Degree Certificate from Chettinad Academy of Research and Education. The dispute arose after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seized ₹1.13 crore that had been paid towards her medical education, alleging that the funds were linked to proceeds generated for the banned CPI (Maoist) organization.
The graduate had completed her MBBS course and Compulsory Rotatory Resident Internship (CRRI), but the college withheld her certificates after the NIA seized the entire fee amount. She argued that educational certificates cannot be retained as security for financial disputes and emphasized that she was not personally accused in the criminal case.
Court: No Right to Benefit From Alleged Proceeds of Crime
A Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan acknowledged that the appellant herself was not named as an accused. However, the Court held that she could not claim an equitable right over funds that were allegedly proceeds of crime. The Bench noted that once the NIA appropriated the fee amount from the college, her account effectively reverted to an unpaid status.
The Court further observed that forcing the institution to release certificates despite receiving no legally recognized fee payment would unfairly burden the college, which had already invested its infrastructure, faculty, and resources in training the student.
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Rare Exception to the General Rule on Certificate Retention
Importantly, the High Court reiterated that educational certificates ordinarily should not be withheld merely for fee recovery. However, it described the present matter as an exceptional case involving allegations of terrorist financing, criminal asset seizure, and proceedings under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The Bench also pointed out that the student remains free to either deposit the required fee amount afresh and claim her certificates or pursue legal remedies before the appropriate NIA court for release of the seized funds. The ruling highlights a rare intersection of medical education, criminal law, national security investigations, and institutional financial rights.
