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Hosapete: The arrest of two more doctors and a first division assistant (FDA) in Vijayanagara has uncovered a deeper layer of a growing scandal involving fraudulent attempts to secure govt medical seats under the disability quota using suspicious medical documents.
Earlier, H Prasanna, executive director of the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), flagged 21 instances where individuals submitted questionable medical certificates to claim MBBS seats under the disabled quota. These individuals, found to be ineligible for Unique Disability ID (UDID) cards, allegedly produced false documents. Acting on his directive, KEA administrator Islauddin Gadyal filed a complaint, leading to the registration of a case at Malleshwaram police station in Bengaluru.
All 21 candidates had submitted documents indicating hearing disabilities, with most of the certificates being recently procured. Investigations soon revealed major irregularities in these claims.
Dr Sudhakar, an ophthalmologist at the Mangalore Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Kukanur taluk of Koppal district was already arrested in connection with the scam. Following suit, two more medical professionals — Dr Hariprasad, residential medical officer (RMO) at the Hosapete Subdivision Government Hospital, and Dr Srinivas, a paediatrician at Kamalapur Government Hospital — were taken into custody earlier this week.
Umesh Nagappa Chowdhury, a resident of Hosapete and FDA at the district hospital until July 9, was also arrested. He is accused of validating medical certificates and issuing UDID cards for several candidates — seven during March and April, and another 13 on July 9 at Hagaribommanahalli Government Hospital, where he was transferred.
However, the district’s medical authorities have distanced themselves from the scandal. District health officer (DHO) Dr LR Shankar Naik claimed that 20 candidates with fake certificates originated from Bengaluru, and that the hospitals in Hagaribommanahalli and Hosapete merely issued the UDID cards.
Contradicting this statement, a senior physician from the DHO office, speaking on condition of anonymity, questioned the apparent negligence: “Why didn’t these doctors realise their subordinates weren’t authorised to issue UDIDs?” he asked.
Supporting this view, information from the DHO office casts doubt on the legitimacy of the 13 cases in Hagaribommanahalli as the hospital lacks an ENT specialist or a medical officer capable of issuing UDIDs. It has come to light that case worker Ashok, who remains absconding, may have fabricated and issued these disability IDs.
Deputy commissioner Kavita S Mannikeri confirmed that an investigation is currently under way and that the DHO has submitted a detailed report. “The district administration is closely monitoring the entire situation,” she said.
Meanwhile, DHO Naik maintained that the department is fully cooperating with police efforts to uncover the truth.
