Breach of Trust: Three 'Doctors' Arrested in Rajasthan for Infiltrating Government Hospitals with Fake Credentials

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Jaipur, Rajasthan – In a disturbing revelation that exposes deep cracks in the medical verification system, the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Rajasthan Police has arrested three individuals for practicing as medical interns in government hospitals using forged credentials. The accused, who had repeatedly failed the mandatory Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), allegedly bypassed the regulatory firewall by purchasing fake pass certificates, granting them unauthorized access to treat patients in the state’s public healthcare system.

The Operation

The arrests, confirmed on Thursday by Additional Director General of Police (SOG) Vishal Bansal, followed a tip-off regarding irregularities in the registration of foreign medical graduates. The investigation revealed that the three accused—identified as Dr. Piyush Kumar Trivedi, Dr. Devendra Singh Gurjar, and Dr. Shubham Gurjar—had obtained their MBBS degrees from universities abroad but were unable to clear the FMGE, a statutory screening test required for foreign graduates to practice medicine in India.

According to SOG officials, the primary accused, Piyush Kumar Trivedi from Dausa, failed the FMGE three consecutive times between 2022 and 2024. Desperate to circumvent the system, he allegedly paid ₹16 lakh to a criminal network to procure a forged FMGE pass certificate. This fraudulent document was then used to secure registration with the Rajasthan Medical Council (RMC) and the National Medical Commission (NMC), eventually landing him a coveted internship at the Government Medical College in Karauli.

The investigation quickly snowballed, implicating Dr. Shubham Gurjar and Dr. Devendra Singh Gurjar, who reportedly used similar fraudulent means to secure internships at Rajiv Gandhi Hospital in Alwar and the Government Medical College in Dausa, respectively. All three are currently in police custody as authorities work to dismantle the larger network facilitating this fraud.

The FMGE Bottleneck: A Catalyst for Fraud?

To understand the motive behind this desperate measure, one must look at the rigorous nature of the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination. Conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE), the FMGE is the gateway for thousands of Indian students returning with medical degrees from countries like Russia, China, Ukraine, and the Philippines.

However, the exam is notoriously difficult. Data from recent years highlights a stark reality: pass rates often hover between 10% and 20%. For instance, in the December 2023 session, the pass percentage was approximately 20%, leaving the vast majority of graduates in professional limbo—qualified on paper abroad but legally barred from practicing at home.

“The pressure on these graduates is immense,” explains Dr. R.K. Sharma, a senior medical educator and former ethics committee member (who was not involved in this specific investigation). “Many have spent six years and substantial family savings abroad. When they return and face repeated failures in the FMGE, the desperation can make them vulnerable to criminal touts promising a ‘backdoor’ entry. But this does not excuse the crime; it endangers lives.”

Systemic Failure and Public Health Risks

The success of these three individuals in securing positions at government teaching hospitals raises alarming questions about the verification protocols of state medical councils. That forged documents could pass scrutiny at multiple levels—from the regulatory council to the hospital administration—points to a systemic lapse.

“Interns are the foot soldiers of government hospitals,” notes Dr. Sunita Maheshwari, a public health advocate. “They are often the first point of contact for patients in emergency wards and OPDs. If an intern lacks the core competency verified by the screening test, they might miss critical diagnoses or mishandle emergency procedures. It is not just a case of forgery; it is a potential threat to patient safety.”

This incident is not an isolated event but part of a troubling trend. Just months prior, the CBI launched a nationwide crackdown on 73 foreign medical graduates who had allegedly registered with various state councils without clearing the FMGE. In Rajasthan specifically, the state medical council recently cancelled the licenses of eight other doctors following similar allegations of document forgery, indicating a persistent rot within the certification process.

The Road Ahead

The SOG has indicated that the investigation is expanding. “We are focusing on identifying the masterminds, intermediaries, and other potential beneficiaries who may have used similar fraudulent means to enter the medical system,” ADG Bansal stated. The police are now scrutinizing the records of other foreign graduates who have recently secured internships in the state.

For the public, this case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance. While patients in government hospitals have little choice in their attending doctors, the medical community is calling for the digitization and centralized verification of all medical credentials to close these loopholes once and for all.

Medical Disclaimer:

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before making any health-related decisions or changes to your treatment plan. The information presented here is based on current research and expert opinions, which may evolve as new evidence emerges.