Uttarakhand: 4 more MBBS admissions cancelled over fake certificates, total reaches 19

Dehradun: Four more MBBS admissions have been cancelled by the Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Uttarakhand Medical Education University (HNBUMU) over the alleged use of fake freedom fighter-dependent and caste certificates to secure admission to state medical colleges.

With the latest cancellations, the total number of cancelled MBBS admissions in Uttarakhand has reached 19. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the university had cancelled the provisional admissions of 15 candidates after the domicile, category and/or sub-category certificates submitted by them failed to clear the verification process.

Similarly, the latest action was taken after the university found discrepancies in the documents submitted by the four candidates during the MBBS counselling process.

Also read- Uttarakhand varsity cancels provisional MBBS admission of 15 candidates after certificates fail verification

Of the four candidates, two were allotted seats at Government Medical College, Haridwar, while the other two were allotted seats at Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Government Institute of Medical Science and Research, Srinagar, Pauri Garhwal. The candidates had secured seats under reserved categories, including OBC women, orphan, and SC women categories, as per TOI report.

Further, the university has clarified that admissions under the state quota will remain provisional until the relevant certificates are verified. The verification process is continuing even as the third round of counselling has started.

The university had recently begun counselling for 303 seats, including 31 BDS seats. The counselling also includes 43 MBBS seats at Government Medical College, Pithoragarh, after the college received approval to start its academic session in 2026, adds TOI

The admission process is scheduled to continue until October 9, while October 14 has been fixed as the last date for selected candidates to join their respective colleges. The university is expected to announce the schedule for the stray vacancy round, if required.

Background

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that altogether five individuals, including four female students, were booked for allegedly using fake documents to obtain MBBS seats under the Freedom Fighters' Dependants quota in Uttarakhand. Taking action against the four female students, the Uttarakhand Medical Education Department has cancelled their MBBS admissions. After this, the entire process of issuing and verifying such documents came under scrutiny.

Afterwards, the SIT arrested two people in connection with the case, and the Uttarakhand Medical Education Department has directed principals of all 10 government and private medical colleges participating in the state counselling process to verify the documents of candidates who claimed any category or sub-category benefit during NEET-UG 2025 admissions.

Social activist, Bahuguna who has been raising the issue, met State Health and Medical Education Minister Uniyal and submitted the list of a total of 370 such candidates, demanding a detailed investigation into their certificates. He clarified that he is not claiming that certificates of all candidates on the list are fake but said that available records and admission-related information raise suspicions regarding these cases, necessitating official verification of the documents.

In response, Uniyal said that the government is taking the matter seriously. Suspecting the involvement of a major racket, he has directed the Dehradun District Magistrate to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within a week.

While investigating the matter, the Dehradun District Magistrate, in its inquiry, found two revenue sub-inspectors responsible for alleged negligence in verifying documents before issuing the disputed certificates to medical students and accordingly suspended them.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Uttarakhand Police has arrested another accused in the case. The accused is reportedly a consultant with a private firm in Bhopal that facilitates admissions to private medical, engineering and computer application courses.

Also read- Uttarakhand MBBS admission fraud: 3rd accused arrested, Rs 5.5 lakh cash recovered