SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, January 8: An MBBS student of the 2025 batch was caught at Shaheed Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH), Dhanbad, for securing admission using a fake Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate.
The student was identified as Sahil Kumar Kushwaha, a resident of Giridih district, who had taken admission under the SC quota using forged documents.
Fake Certificate Detected in CO Probe
During an inquiry conducted by the Circle Officer (CO), Giridih, it was found that Sahil Kumar carries the Kushwaha surname, but had obtained a fake caste certificate of ‘Ravidas’, which falls under the SC category.
The Giridih CO informed the SNMMCH admission department about the findings on Tuesday.
Admission Cancelled, FIR Lodged
Based on the CO’s report, SNMMCH cancelled Sahil Kumar’s admission and formally informed the Jharkhand Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board (JCECEB).
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An FIR was also lodged at the Saraidhela police station against the student for using a fake caste certificate.
Complaint Received in December
SNMMCH Admission In-Charge Dr Ganesh Kumar said that a complaint regarding the fake SC certificate was received in December.
“Following the complaint, we wrote to the Giridih Circle Officer for on-the-spot verification. After investigation, the CO confirmed that the caste certificate was fake,” Dr Kumar said.
Online Screening Allows Fake Certificates to Slip Through
A senior official from the Medical Education wing of the Health Department admitted that the current online screening system for caste certificates by JCECEB has temporarily allowed fake certificate holders to escape detection.
Earlier, physical and on-spot verification was conducted, which made detection of fake certificates easier, the official added.
ACS Health Orders Statewide Probe
In view of multiple cases involving fake caste certificates in the 2025 MBBS batch, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Health Ajay Kumar Singh, on November 12, 2024, directed all medical colleges in the state to get verification of certificates of candidates from first, second, and third counselling rounds through the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Circle Officer of the concerned districts.
However, sources said that DC-level screening failed to detect any fake certificate holders.
Third Case at SNMMCH
Sahil Kumar is the third MBBS student of the 2025 session to be caught with a fake caste certificate at SNMMCH Dhanbad.
Earlier, the admissions of Shubham Kumar Mishra of Giridih and Suchurita Dutta of Godda were also cancelled for submitting fake caste certificates.
