Four MBBS admissions in Uttarakhand have been cancelled following an official verification that identified discrepancies in documents submitted under the Freedom Fighter Dependent category during the NEET-UG counselling process.

The issue has also resulted in police cases involving five people. Investigators are examining how the disputed certificates were obtained and whether additional individuals were involved in preparing or submitting the documents.

How the issue came to light

The matter emerged after Dehradun resident Pradeep Bahuguna raised concerns about documents submitted by candidates seeking admission through the Freedom Fighter Dependent quota.

Bahuguna, who is the son of environmentalist and Padma Shri awardee Sunderlal Bahuguna, reportedly reviewed a list of candidates who had claimed benefits under the category. He noticed that some certificates appeared to have been issued close to the conclusion of the counselling process.

He subsequently approached the Dehradun district administration and the state medical education authorities and requested verification of the documents.

Following the request, the Medical Education Directorate asked the Dehradun district administration to verify the domicile documents and Freedom Fighter Dependent certificates submitted by candidates who had obtained MBBS seats under the quota.

What did the verification find?

A committee established by Dehradun District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan examined the certificates, supporting paperwork and residential information provided by the applicants.

The verification reportedly identified incomplete documentation and difficulties in confirming some of the addresses mentioned in the applications.

In the four cases under scrutiny, the applicants reportedly claimed dependency on a freedom fighter identified as Dharmveer Verma, son of Khajan Singh. However, the relevant district records reportedly did not contain that name in the register examined by the authorities.

Further discrepancies were reportedly found in affidavits, identity documents, contact numbers and residential details. Physical verification also reportedly failed to locate some applicants or their family members at the addresses provided.

Which MBBS admissions were cancelled?

The four students identified in connection with the matter are:

• Tripti
• Swati
• Khushi
• Pari

All four had obtained MBBS seats using the Freedom Fighter Dependent category. After receiving the district administration's verification findings, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Uttarakhand Medical Education University cancelled their admissions.

The four seats have consequently become vacant and are expected to be offered through a subsequent counselling process.

Medical Education Director Ashutosh Sayana confirmed that the admissions were cancelled following the district administration's findings. The academic session had not yet started, so the students had reportedly not begun attending classes.

Why were police cases registered?

The document discrepancies have also led to criminal proceedings in Dehradun. Police cases have been registered at two separate police stations.

Clement Town Police Station

A case was registered against Tripti and her mother, Uma Devi, in connection with the alleged procurement and use of a disputed Freedom Fighter Dependent certificate.

Raipur Police Station

Separate cases were registered against Khushi, Pari and Swati in relation to the certificates used during the admission process.

The FIRs reportedly include provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita concerning offences such as cheating and forgery. The allegations remain subject to police investigation and the legal process.

Could the issue extend beyond these four cases?

The immediate administrative action concerns four certificates and the four MBBS admissions associated with them. However, the matter has raised wider questions about the verification of domicile and reservation documents used during medical admissions in Uttarakhand.

A separate allegation has suggested that more than 200 potentially questionable domicile certificates may have been generated in the state for obtaining reservation-related benefits. This broader claim has not been established by the district inquiry concerning the four MBBS admissions.

Investigators are also examining whether other people could have been involved in preparing, arranging or submitting the disputed documents.

The investigation may involve scrutiny of identity records, photographs, telephone numbers, original NEET application information and other paperwork associated with the certificates.

New verification measures planned

The controversy has prompted the state medical education authorities to consider tighter verification procedures for future counselling rounds.

Medical Education Director Ashutosh Sayana has indicated that documents submitted by candidates claiming benefits during Uttarakhand's NEET counselling, including domicile and category certificates, will be physically forwarded to the authorities that originally issued them for verification.

Calls for a broader investigation

The episode has also led to calls for a wider review of Freedom Fighter Dependent certificates issued in Uttarakhand.

RTI activist and advocate Vikesh Singh Negi has indicated that he may approach the Uttarakhand High Court seeking a more extensive investigation into such certificates issued since the formation of the state.

What is confirmed so far?

The allegations concerning forged or improperly obtained documents remain under investigation. Any criminal liability will be determined through the applicable legal process. Claims extending beyond the four certificates examined by the district administration should not be treated as established facts unless independently verified by the competent authorities.