Student bags MBBS seat via Impersonation: Authorities order inquiry into all admissions in 24 medical colleges

Chennai: The government of Tamil Nadu has ordered an enquiry into all MBBS admissions in 24 medical colleges after the authorities discovered that a student had bagged an MBBS seat by impersonating in National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2019.

This direction by the state has come after a first-year MBBS student of Theni Medical College was booked for alleged impersonation in NEET, the only gateway examination to get into a medical college. The medico got admission for the academic year 2019-20 without actually appearing for NEET.

The matter was revealed after the dean of the medical college, Dr AK Rajendran filed a complaint with the police. Rajendran lodged the complaint based on a couple of emails that he had received on September 11 and 13 from one Krishnan who pointed out about them MBBS student's illegal move to secure a medical seat.

Krishnan alleged that the medical student had written NEET examination two times, however, he could clear NEET in both his attempts. Thereafter, he went to Mumbai and appeared for the entrance exam for the third time. This time he cleared the exam and managed to get admission in Theni Medical College.

However, as per the emails, the person who sat for the third NEET attempt was someone else and not the MBBS student who was pursuing the course, thereby alleging impersonation.

The dean immediately conducted an inquiry into the matter and handed over the report to the Selection Committee of the Directorate of Medical Education (DME). After going through the report, DME directed to file a complaint with the cops.

Observing the gravity of the alleged offence, the officials of Directorate of Medical Education (DME) has instructed all medical colleges to mandate fingerprinting of medical students along with their photographs and signatures to prevent such incidents.

Police probe revealed that the photograph of the MBBS student did not match in the college application and NEET 2019 scorecard. Moreover, the boy who appeared for the medical entrance exam was fair while the one who is attending classes is dusky. The cops spoke to his classmates and the faculty members as well and confirmed that the guy is different from the one who appeared for the entrance exam.

The medico was directed to appear before the investigating officer. However, the MBBS student was absent for the past four days and subsequently wrote a letter to the DME in Chennai on September 13, expressing to discontinue the course citing depression and health issues and promised to pay the discontinuation fee.

Meanwhile, charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating under Sections 120(B), 419 and 420 of the IPC have been filed against him and Sections 468 and 471 might be added as and what the investigation unfolds.

A recent enquiry by an in-house committee also found a strong base for suspicion in the matter.

"We have asked that this be investigated...if it is proved beyond doubt (following the probe) that the person who wrote the exam is not the person who got admitted, definitely he will be debarred," Babu told PTI.

Certificate verification has now confirmed contradiction in the identity details in the application and the NEET 2019 marks card of the MBBS student of Theni Medical College. It is also found that he did not go through counselling too.

R. Narayana Babu, DME in-charge, stated that the secretary of the Selection Committee had asked all medical colleges to cross-check details of students who have joined MBBS courses in 2019.

Talking to The Indian Express, Babu apprised that top officials of Theni medical college had come to Chennai on September 20 and briefed them about the case.

"We can only conduct an inquiry. We have launched a probe in all 24 medical colleges now. Our officials are rechecking admissions of each and every student, their photo, admit cards, hall tickets and certificates with their latest photos," Babu told the daily.

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Commenting on the issue, source from Theni Medical College highlighted that the primary inquiry is leading to a larger fraud in the entire admission process.

"We have unverified information that the student who wrote the NEET exam was actually hired to write it for those who may not clear it on their own. Only a detailed probe by the police will reveal it," the source told The Indian Express.