SOG probes ‘production chain’ behind fake med certificates

Jaipur: Rajasthan Police's Special Operations Group (SOG) has widened its probe into the alleged fake medical certification racket following the recent arrest of two medical graduates with overseas degrees. Both are accused of using forged Foreign Medi-cal Graduate Examination (FMGE) certificates to secure internships through the Rajasthan Medical Council (RMC).
Investigators said the racket may have benefited at least 73 candidates, all of whom obtained their medical degrees from foreign institutions but failed to clear the mandatory FMGE screening test, a legal prerequisite to practise medicine in India. Sources in the SOG said these candidates submitted forged FMGE certificates to obtain internships under the RMC. Preliminary investigations point to an organised network involved in preparing, circulating and monetising forged FMGE certificates, they added.Additional director general (ADG) of SOG, Vishal Bansal, said the agency is examining all documents and evidence required to drill deeper into the racket. The SOG Friday had announced the arrest of the alleged kingpins of this racket — Bhana Ram Mali alias Bhanu (30) and Indraraj Singh Gurjar (27).Investigators said they were now cross-verifying FMGE certificates submitted to the RMC by checking for identical layouts, serial number sequences, fonts and seals. They are also analysing mobile phones, laptops and email accounts seized from the two accused, along with Telegram and WhatsApp groups allegedly used to identify and recruit candidates willing to pay for forged FMGE certificates.The objective, sources said, is to zero in on digital templates of suspect FMGE certificates in an effort to trace the "production chain" behind the forgeries.More arrests are likely in this case as the investigation expands, they added.