Maharashtra: 19 medical students expelled for submitting bogus caste certificates

Medical authorities in Maharashtra have expelled 19 MBBS students from state and civic-run medical colleges in Mumbai and Kolhapur for allegedly submitting fake caste certificates to get admissions under quota reserved for Scheduled castes/tribes candidates.

The Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), which supervises admissions in all state and civic-run hospitals in Maharashtra, has also asked for verification of all students who have secured admissions under the SC/ST quota and police complaints have been filed against expelled students, an official said.

DMER got a tip-off that a few students who secured admissions under the SC/ST quota in the academic year 2013-14 and 2014-15 submitted fake caste certificates.

"Nine Grant Medical College students found guilty of malpractice had claimed that they belonged to a tribal village near Nandurbar in northwest Maharashtra and authorities there sent a report on Tuesday, identifying nine fake certificates," JJ Hospital Dean, Dr T P Lahane said.

DMER director, Pravin Shingare, said a tip-off was provided by a former Mantralaya staffer.