Fake pharmacy registration racket busted, Delhi council ex-registrar among 47 held
Singh, officials said, cleared a total of 4,928 registrations of pharmacies across the city during his tenure from March 17, 2020, to September 25, 2023.
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Singh, even after the withdrawal from office on August 16, 2023, continued approving applications via his email, registering 232 additional candidates before his final suspension on September 25, 2023.In a major crackdown, the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi government has busted a fake pharmacy registration racket and arrested 47 persons, including a former registrar and clerk of the Delhi Pharmacy Council (DPC), officials said on Wednesday.
ACB chief Madhur Verma said several pharmacists who got themselves registered with fake documents were found to be operating in the Capital. “The scam was orchestrated by Kuldeep Singh, former registrar at DPC, in collaboration with a private firm which was hired to conduct online registrations of the pharmacists. However, the company was hired without any tendering process and in violation of the laid down procedures,” Verma said in a statement.
Singh, officials said, cleared a total of 4,928 registrations of pharmacies across the city during his tenure from March 17, 2020, to September 25, 2023. Multiple forged documents including training certificates, diplomas, computer systems, and printers used for printing fake certificates have been seized.
“The investigation revealed that bribes were taken through a middleman, identified as Sanjay, who coordinated between DPC officials and various diploma colleges,” Verma said. He further added, “In the first phase of the investigation, 35 chemists registered with fake documents have been arrested. The scrutiny of remaining registrations is under process,” said Verma.
Apart from the former registrar six alleged touts, a printing shop owner, three employees of a pharmacy college, and 35 illegal pharmacists have been arrested. Neeraj, a designer from the Shahbad area of Northwest Delhi allegedly printed fake certificates.
On January 31, a complaint was filed by the Deputy Secretary, Health and Family Welfare of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD), against Singh, the then Registrar, DPC, regarding the alleged illegal approval of the registration of three candidates as pharmacists having fake documents. After a detailed inquiry into the matter, a proposal to seek previous approval U/s 17A of POC Act, 1988, to initiate a probe against Singh, the then Registrar was forwarded to the Directorate of Vigilance, GNCTD.
“Applicants were registered online by uploading their fake certificates related to diploma and training. These fake certificates were verified via email from the complicit college employees, who falsely confirmed the authenticity of the certificates,” said Verma.
Singh, even after the withdrawal from office on August 16, 2023, continued approving applications via his email, registering 232 additional candidates before his final suspension on September 25, 2023.
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