Probe Deepens as NHM IT Assistant Held in Damoh Fake Degree Scam
The investigation into the fake MBBS degree racket uncovered in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district has intensified with the arrest of an IT assistant associated with the National Health Mission (NHM) office in Bhopal. With this latest development, the total number of accused arrested in the case has risen to five.
According to police officials, the IT assistant is suspected of facilitating appointment-related processes and uploading official orders on the NHM portal. Investigators believe he may have played a role in helping the accused navigate government systems using forged documents and fake medical qualifications.
Accused Denies Any Involvement
While undergoing a medical examination at the district hospital, the accused denied all allegations against him. Speaking to the media, he claimed that his responsibilities were limited to uploading vacancies and official orders on the NHM website.
He stated that he was falsely implicated after being named by someone else and asserted that he had no connection with the other accused individuals. The IT assistant further claimed that there is no interview process within NHM and maintained that he had no role in the fake degree racket.
Investigation Began After Complaints of Fake Doctors
The case came to light after police received information about individuals allegedly practising medicine and working at government health facilities and Sanjivani Hospital in Damoh using forged MBBS degrees and fake documents.
Acting on the information, police initially arrested two alleged fake doctors who were reportedly employed using forged medical qualifications. Their interrogation led investigators to uncover a wider network involved in the scam.
Arrests Reveal Wider Network
Further investigation resulted in the arrest of a third accused doctor from Sanjivani Hospital in Jabalpur. Authorities later apprehended a radiologist from Bhopal, who is alleged to have prepared fake medical degrees and forged documents used by the accused.
The radiologist and the recently arrested IT assistant were brought to the district hospital for medical examinations before being produced in court.
Court Grants Police Remand
A local court granted police a two-day remand of both the radiologist and the IT assistant to facilitate further interrogation and investigation.
Officials believe the custodial questioning could reveal the involvement of additional individuals and potentially expose a larger network operating behind the fake degree racket.
More Arrests Likely
Investigators suspect that influential individuals may also be linked to the fraud. The ongoing probe is focused on identifying those responsible for creating forged medical credentials, securing appointments, and enabling unqualified individuals to work in healthcare institutions.
Police have indicated that further arrests cannot be ruled out as the investigation continues.
