Developing Story··Updated 14d ago

Third Arrest in Uttarakhand MBBS Admission Fraud Case, Rs 5.5 Lakh Seized

Uttarakhand SIT arrests a Bhopal-based admissions consultant in an alleged fake freedom-fighter-quota MBBS admission scam, recovering Rs 5.5 lakh in cash.

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Current Summary

According to a September 25 Medical Dialogues report citing PTI, the Special Investigation Team of Uttarakhand Police has arrested a third person in a case involving the use of fake freedom fighter dependent certificates to secure MBBS admissions in state medical colleges. Dehradun SSP Pramendra Singh Doval said the accused, a consultant with a private firm in Bhopal, was arrested after his name emerged during interrogation of the case's alleged mastermind. Police recovered about Rs 5.5 lakh in cash allegedly paid by the mastermind for securing MBBS admissions under the freedom fighter quota. FIRs have been registered against 19 people for allegedly using forged domicile and caste certificates to secure MBBS admission bids, and two revenue department officials in Udham Singh Nagar have been suspended over forged documents used in an admission bid. A September 28 India Today report widens the scale further: about 370 students allegedly used fake permanent-residence and category certificates to secure MBBS seats, according to a complaint Dehradun resident Pradeep Bahuguna, son of environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna, submitted to the state Health Minister. The Health Minister has directed the Dehradun District Magistrate to complete an inquiry within a week, though the DM has not yet made a public statement. The SIT's ongoing investigation has focused primarily on fake freedom-fighter dependent certificates, and Bahuguna has argued the probe should also cover the broader certificate fraud allegations. A further September 28 Medical Dialogues report says scrutiny has widened to 36 permanent residence and category certificates allegedly issued at the last minute by the SDM (Sadar), Dehradun. The Medical Education Department has cancelled the MBBS admissions of four female students booked for allegedly using fake documents under the Freedom Fighters' Dependants quota, and has directed all 10 participating medical colleges to verify documents of candidates claiming reserved categories.

What We Know

Uttarakhand SIT has now arrested three people in the MBBS admission fraud case, including the alleged mastermind.
The latest arrest is a Bhopal-based admissions consultant, held Thursday.
Police recovered about Rs 5.5 lakh in cash from his vehicle.
The scheme allegedly used fake freedom fighter dependent certificates to secure MBBS seats in state medical colleges.
The accused says he facilitates admissions to MBBS, BTech, BCA, BBA and BCom courses on commission and met the alleged mastermind in Uttarkashi two years ago.
FIRs have been registered against 19 people for allegedly using forged domicile and caste certificates to secure MBBS admission bids, according to a September 26 Times of India report.
A September 27 Times of India report says two revenue department officials in Udham Singh Nagar have been suspended after forged documents were used in an MBBS admission bid.
About 370 students allegedly used fake permanent-residence and category certificates to secure MBBS seats, per a complaint submitted to the state Health Minister.
Complainant Pradeep Bahuguna, son of environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna, flagged the irregularities; the Health Minister has directed the Dehradun District Magistrate to complete an inquiry within a week.
The SIT's investigation has focused primarily on fake freedom-fighter dependent certificates, for which three people have been arrested.
36 permanent residence and category certificates allegedly issued at the last minute by the SDM (Sadar), Dehradun, have come under SIT scrutiny.
The Uttarakhand Medical Education Department has cancelled MBBS admissions of four female students booked for allegedly using fake documents under the Freedom Fighters' Dependants quota.
All 10 government and private medical colleges participating in the state counselling process have been directed to verify documents of candidates claiming reserved categories.

What Is Still Unclear

The consultant's exact role in the scheme and how many fraudulent admissions were facilitated.
Which specific medical colleges were affected.
Whether further arrests are expected.

What Changed

29 Sept, 10:21 pm
Scrutiny in the Uttarakhand MBBS admission fraud case has widened to 36 permanent residence and category certificates allegedly issued at the last minute by the SDM (Sadar), Dehradun, according to a September 28 Medical Dialogues report citing activist Pradeep Bahuguna. The Uttarakhand Medical Education Department has already cancelled the MBBS admissions of four female students booked for allegedly using fake documents to secure seats under the Freedom Fighters' Dependants quota, and has directed all 10 government and private medical colleges in the state counselling process to verify the documents of candidates claiming reserved categories.
29 Sept, 09:33 pm
India Today reports the MBBS admission fraud scope is larger than previously known: about 370 students allegedly benefited from fake permanent-residence and category certificates, separate from the freedom-fighter certificate scam already under SIT investigation. Dehradun resident Pradeep Bahuguna, son of environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna, submitted a list of alleged irregularities to the state Health Minister, who has directed the Dehradun District Magistrate to complete an inquiry within a week. The SIT's probe has so far focused on fake freedom-fighter certificates, in which three people have been arrested; Bahuguna argues the probe should also cover the wider certificate fraud.
29 Sept, 08:31 pm
A September 27 Times of India report says two revenue department officials in Udham Singh Nagar have been suspended after forged documents surfaced in connection with an MBBS admission bid, widening the fallout from the state's admission-fraud crackdown.
29 Sept, 04:12 pm
A separate strand of the same admission-fraud crackdown has surfaced: police have registered FIRs against 19 people over allegations that forged domicile and caste certificates were used to secure MBBS admission bids in Uttarakhand, according to a September 26 Times of India report.
25 Sept, 11:01 pm
Signal detected: Third Arrest in Uttarakhand MBBS Admission Fraud Case, Rs 5.5 Lakh Seized

Background

The state government earlier ordered medical colleges to verify admission documents after SIT arrested two people over alleged fake certificates in the same case.