No arrests so far in Rohtak MBBS Exam Scam

Rohtak: The investigation into the MBBS exam scam at Pandit BD Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak, has seen no new arrests so far since February. The police team heading the investigation are now preparing their chargesheet related to the case, and the absence of fresh arrests has raised concerns about possible shortcomings in the investigation.

Meanwhile, the senior faculty member has come under the scanner of the police in the MBBS exam scam that surfaced at Pandit BD Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak (UHSR). The professor of the non-clinical department has reportedly been summoned several times for questioning at the university campus.

In February, three university employees were arrested after a case was registered involving 41 individuals, including 14 university staff members and 27 MBBS students from a private medical college. 

Also read- MBBS exam scam surfaces from Rohtak University- Students allegedly rewrote answer sheets using erasable ink pens

The delay has sparked concerns about how the case is being handled, and questions have been raised regarding the direction of the probe. Even after so many people have been booked in the case, the police have only managed to arrest three individuals. Many expected more arrests during this period, but nothing significant has happened.

Now with the 90-day deadline to file a chargesheet coming near, police officials told The Tribune that they are now focusing on collecting documents and preparing the final report.

“The chargesheet is being prepared and will be submitted within the stipulated time,” confirmed DSP Dalip Singh. 

The Tribune sources close to the investigation revealed that the delay might have been caused by the investigating officer being away for official work.

Deepak Rathee, a social activist, voiced the growing public unease, saying, “The tentacles of the scam may be spread to higher levels, but the truth will come out when more individuals involved in this nexus are arrested and interrogated thoroughly. A scam of this magnitude cannot be carried out without the assistance of influential people.”

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that a massive scam involving MBBS examination papers surfaced at Pt BD Sharma University of Health Sciences (UHS), Rohtak where university staff allegedly charged large sums from students to help them clear a particular subject by allowing them to rewrite their answer sheets using erasable ink pens and textbook reference.

Despite having already completed the examination, the students obtained their answer sheets, corrected them with the help of textbooks at one of the employee's residences, and then submitted the revised answer sheets for evaluation. However, obtaining the submitted answer sheets was not free of charge. The students reportedly paid between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh per subject to the scammers for assistance in clearing the exam. Employees of UHSR were found to be involved in the scam. 

To aid the investigation, UHSR has now hired a handwriting expert to examine the answer sheets of 30 students from a private college. The expert is expected to visit the campus soon to collect fresh handwriting samples and determine if the writing throughout the sheets matches that of each student. 

An official from UHSR told The Tribune, “The handwriting expert will submit the report within two weeks. This analysis will help determine the next course of action. Discrepancies in handwriting had raised serious doubts. The expert had to be brought in because many students, during their hearings before the Disciplinary Committee led by PGIMS Director Prof SK Singhal, denied any tampering. However, prima facie, their handwriting appears inconsistent with the rest of the content."

Later, another Pt BD Sharma University of Health Sciences Rohtak -UHSR employee was implicated in the case. The probe revealed that the accused had taken a bribe of Rs 30,000 per answer sheet for sending them out from the branch. The accused is a Class IV employee at the Secrecy branch of UHSR. He reportedly used to take a bribe of Rs 30,000 per answer sheet to send out the answer sheets from the branch. These answer sheets were later returned after students or other persons reattempted. This illegal activity has been going on for the last few years.

During interrogation, it came to light that the bribe amount was initially fixed at Rs 50,000 per answer sheet. Out of this, Rs 30,000 was given to the confidentiality branch employee, while the rest was distributed among two other employees. 

Also read- Rohtak MBBS exam scam: Official took Rs 30K per answer sheet, finds probe