Fake D-Pharmacy Certificate Scam: Medical superintendent, Principal of Adesh University among 4 held

Ludhiana: In the latest update on the fake pharmacy certificates scam, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested four more accused including the Medical Superintendent of Adesh Institute of Medical Science and Research official and the principal of the institute in connection with the case.

The four accused were arrested for their alleged involvement in admitting ineligible candidates and fraudulently issuing Pharmacy degrees.

This illegal activity was reportedly carried out in connivance with registrars and officials of the Punjab State Pharmacy Council (PSPC).

Also read- Fake Pharmacy Certificates Scam: Nine Chemists, 2 Ex-Registrars, 1 Superintendent Of Punjab State Pharmacy Council Arrested

According to an HT news report, The additional accused in the case have been identified as  principal of Lala Lajpat Rai College in 2013, Sehna in Barnala district, principal in 2011 at Lala Lajpat College of Pharmacy, Moga, medical superintendent of Adesh University, Bathinda and Principal of Adesh University.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported the scam where the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) arrested nine persons who allegedly obtained D-Pharmacy licences in connivance with some self-financed pharmacy institutes in the State. 

The Bureau has arrested altogether 12 persons in this connection including the two former registers and one superintendent of the Punjab State Pharmacy Council (PSPC) who were detained in December 2023.

Allegedly, they were involved in committing severe irregularities regarding the process of registration and issuance of certificates to pharmacists in alliance with private pharmacy institutes.

The probe further revealed that the accused registrars and officials disregarded the stringent protocols and mandated educational qualifications during the admission process for D-Pharmacy courses across 105 pharmacy colleges in Punjab.

Allegedly during the admission process, the Punjab State Technical Education Board, the authority in charge of conducting online counselling for admissions in State Government Colleges, encountered several persistent vacancies in private pharmacy institutes. To fill up the vacant seats, the private institutes allegedly admitted students from other states in connivance with the accused registrars and PSPC officials without obtaining the mandatory migration certificates.

Further, several students who were admitted to the D-Pharmacy Course had 10+2 educational qualifications in medical or non-medical streams obtained privately, while it is required for the students to pass the 10+2 degree regularly and by attending science practicals.

Apart from this, discrepancies were also found in the process of approval and registration process of certificates issued by education boards accredited by the Council of Boards of School Education in India (COBSE).

Allegedly, the PSPC officials, in collusion with the principals and organisers of private medical colleges, facilitated the registration of candidates from these boards and allowed them to get employed in various departments and establish medical shops.

On December 9, a case under sections 420, 465, 466, 468, 120-B of the IPC was registered against the two former registrars and the official of the PSPC for committing irregularities in admissions, registration and issuing licences of D-Pharmacy to students studying in private colleges. Later, the bureau had added IPC sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant), and 467 ( also forgery) along with sections 7, 7-A, 8, 13(1) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act in the FIR.

Also read- MBBS Seat Scam: Doctor Booked For Defrauding Parents Of Two Medical Aspirants Of Rs 1.2 Crore