Khanna: Two held for preparing fake dope tests for gun seekers

Ludhiana: The Khanna police have arrested two individuals allegedly involved in preparing fraudulent dope test reports for firearms licences and medical examinations, recovering several forged seals in the process. The accused have been identified as 55-year-old Ramesh Kumar of Field Ganj, Ludhiana, and 23-year-old Manchit Kumar of Pirkhana Road, Khanna. According to police, the recovery includes counterfeit seals of the Civil Hospital Khanna, Medical Officer, SMO Khanna, and Psychiatrist. Authorities also seized OPD slips from the Punjab Health Systems Corporation and Civil Hospital Khanna, along with 27 Aadhaar cards, one PAN card, and a driving licence.Khanna SSP, Dr Darpan Ahluwalia, stated that the matter surfaced after the Senior Medical Officer (SMO) of Civil Hospital Khanna submitted a written complaint on March 27 flagging illegal activities. Acting on the complaint, police registered an FIR and formed a special investigation team. Ramesh Kumar, alias Tony, was arrested on March 28; his subsequent interrogation led to the arrest of Manchit Kumar, a BBA dropout, on March 30. Investigators noted that Manchit held a parking contract at Civil Hospital Khanna, where his father operates a tea stall. Meanwhile, Tony reportedly manages a parking contract at Civil Hospital Ludhiana.A search yielded various fake documents, forged certificates, and counterfeit stamps. SSP Ahluwalia explained that the gang primarily targeted arms licence applicants who had either failed or were unwilling to undergo mandatory dope tests. The accused allegedly charged between ₹10,000 and ₹30,000 per report, depending on negotiations. While no involvement of Civil Hospital officials from Khanna or Ludhiana has surfaced thus far, the SSP clarified that strict action will be taken if any role is uncovered during the probe. Interrogation continues to identify other members and trace the wider network. Preliminary investigations suggest the accused also provided medical certificates to two railway job aspirants. Furthermore, applicants who obtained arms licences using these forged reports may face legal consequences.