FIR Registered Under PCPNDT Act-Related Licensing Fraud Allegations in Jharkhand
A doctor in Jharkhand’s Dhanbad district has been booked for allegedly submitting documents bearing a forged signature of the Deputy Commissioner to secure a licence for an ultrasonography clinic under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act.
According to police officials, the Dhanbad Sadar Police registered an FIR against the accused doctor following a complaint filed by the district health authorities. The case was lodged on behalf of Dhanbad Civil Surgeon Dr Alok Vishwakarma by Medical Officer-In-Charge (MOIC) Dr Sunita Choudhary.
Confirming the development, Dhanbad Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Manoj Kumar stated that a forgery case has been registered and an investigation is currently underway.
Forged Signature Allegedly Used in Form B Submission
As per official reports, the doctor allegedly submitted documents containing the forged signature of the Deputy Commissioner while filing Form B under the PCPNDT Act for obtaining approval to operate an ultrasound clinic.
The issue came to light during a review meeting of the PCPNDT Act Advisory Committee held at the Dhanbad district collectorate. During the meeting, Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Aditya Ranjan directed authorities to file an FIR after it was discovered that documents bearing a forged signature of the then Deputy Commissioner had allegedly been used in the licensing process.
The Deputy Commissioner instructed the Civil Surgeon to initiate legal action against the accused for allegedly using forged documents while seeking permission for the ultrasonography centre.
Doctor Claims He Was Misled
Responding to the allegations, the doctor denied intentional wrongdoing and claimed that he had himself filed a complaint against a resident of Manoram Nagar who allegedly provided him with the forged documents.
The doctor stated that he was misled and unknowingly submitted the documents provided by another individual. He further alleged that despite his complaint, police action had not yet been taken against the person responsible for supplying the allegedly forged papers.
He has demanded a fair and impartial investigation into the matter.
Investigation Underway
Police officials have begun investigating the authenticity of the submitted documents and the circumstances under which they were used during the licence application process. Authorities are expected to examine whether the alleged forgery was deliberate and determine the involvement of other individuals connected to the case.
The PCPNDT Act regulates diagnostic techniques and aims to prevent sex-selective practices and misuse of prenatal diagnostic facilities. Any irregularities in licensing procedures are treated as serious violations under the law.
The investigation remains ongoing.
