Fake medical graduation certificate racket busted in Maharashtra, 3 arrested
Maharashtra Cyber has uncovered an alleged interstate network involved in creating fake Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) scorecards, certificates and other documents for foreign-trained medical graduates seeking registration to practise medicine in India.
Three people have been arrested in the case, which surfaced after the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) found that some foreign medical graduates who had failed to clear the mandatory FMGE Screening Test were nevertheless in possession of medical registration certificates.
Following a complaint from the MMC, an FIR was registered at the Nodal Cyber Police Station, Maharashtra Cyber, Mumbai. The case is registered as FIR No 72/2026 under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Information Technology Act, 2000.HOW THE FRAUD CAME TO LIGHT
The case concerns foreign medical graduates who obtained Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degrees from other countries.
Such graduates are required to clear the FMGE Screening Test conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) before seeking registration to practise medicine in India.
During scrutiny of registration applications, the MMC found that some foreign medical graduates who had not qualified the mandatory examination were still in possession of medical registration certificates.
The Council subsequently approached Maharashtra Cyber, prompting an investigation into how the registrations had been obtained.
Technical analysis, examination of digital records and scrutiny of relevant system logs helped investigators identify people allegedly involved in the fraud.THREE ARRESTED
The first two accused are themselves applicants who allegedly failed to qualify the prescribed examination but obtained and possessed medical registration certificates.
They have been identified as Varun Prataprao Akhade, 28, and Sanket Prabhakar Unhale, 26, both residents of Buldhana district.
Investigators later traced digital and transactional links to Rahul Gopal Patil, 35, a resident of Nashik district, who is suspected to be a key operative of the alleged interstate network.FAKE DOCUMENTS MADE FOR 15-20 APPLICANTS
According to the investigation, Patil allegedly generated and facilitated the preparation of fake examination scorecards, certificates and other supporting documents for around 15-20 applicants in exchange for monetary payments.
He has been arrested and is being questioned to establish the wider network involved in preparing, transmitting, submitting and using the forged documents.
Maharashtra Cyber is examining financial transactions, digital devices, communication records and other technical evidence as it looks for additional people who may have been involved.
Investigators are also trying to determine the full extent of the alleged operation.CYBER POLICE ISSUE WARNING
Maharashtra Cyber has cautioned foreign medical graduates and other applicants seeking professional registration against using intermediaries who claim they can bypass mandatory examinations or arrange registration through forged documents.
The agency has advised applicants to follow all statutory and regulatory requirements and warned that submitting fabricated documents or misusing digital platforms to obtain professional registration can lead to stringent legal action.
Maharashtra Cyber said it would continue to act against cyber-enabled fraud, document forgery and attempts to circumvent statutory requirements through digital means.- Ends
Divyesh Singh is one of the leading crime journalists in the country. A seasoned investigative journalist with experience of over 15 years in journalism covering Crime, Internal security, Defence, Central Agencies, and Rural issues, he has a number of exclusive breaks and investigative stories to his name. Presently working with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Aajtak / India Today based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Some of his stories to recall are 'Confessions of members from radical organisation in a bomb blast case in which they had been acquitted, Fodder scam in drought affected areas of Maharashtra, Crypto currency scam worth hundreds of crores ,Financial scam targeting US citizens, Black-marketing of life saving Covid19 drugs'. Many such investigations have been appreciated by law enforcement agencies and he has been awarded and appreciated twice by the Maharashtra police for helping the agency crack two serious cases, one a financial scam worth crores and another a double murder case. His coverage in the actor Sushant Singh Rajput death case brought to light the facts in the case, while reported a series of exclusives in the Yes Bank DHFL case and Iqbal Mirchi case on India Today / Aajtak. His coverage on crime underworld and narcotics has been extensive and indepth.
