Vigilance smells a scam in Jharkhand MBBS admissions

Official sources told The Indian Express that a Vigilance probe had become inevitable after state Health Minister Bhanu Pratap Shahi recommended it in his letter dated October 11, 2008 to the Secretary (Health). “It is in the interest of the state to inquire into the bonafide of students who have secured admissions in government medical colleges since 2000,” Shahi’s letter says.

Sources say the case of the four students could be just the tip of an iceberg. In Jharkhand, where there are three government-run medical colleges — RIMS (Ranchi), MGM (Jamshedpur), PMCH (Dhanbad) — 137 students are admitted for the MBBS course every year. The admission is provided after students qualify in the councelling and written test conducted by the Jharkhand Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board (JCECEB).

Sources said in the case of the four expelled students, the JCECEB was tipped off by fellow students. A preliminary investigation found that the photographs affixed on their Class XII admit cards and JCECEB forms did not resemble their respective faces. Photos were found to be manipulated with the help of computer graphics to resemble them. The identity of those who appeared for these students is yet to be known and they are believed to be on the run.

The JCECEB suspects the crime was committed in an organised manner. Asked if there could be more such cases, JCECEB’s Officer on Special Duty Ramakant Singh replied in the affirmative.