20 debarred for forging certificates in MBBS, BDS applications

20 debarred for forging certificates in MBBS, BDS applications

Pushpa.Narayanan@timesofindia.com. 16.07.2025

Chennai : At least 20candidates who forged their nativity, community, and NRI certificates in their MBBS/BDS applications have been debarred for three academic years, and their candidature for 2025 admissions cancelled, the selection committee announced on Tuesday. The committee will also initiate legal action against the candidates. The committee scrutinised more than 70,000 applications received for undergraduate medical and dental courses over the last two weeks. “We found some candidates submitted fake/forged/false documents. Their candidature is cancelled. If any more candidates are found to have submitted such documents at any stage of counselling or admission process, the same measures will be carried out,” said an official. At least four candidates forged certificates from embassies such as Abu Dhabi, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. While seven applicants submitted fake nativity certificates from the tahsildars, nine others forged both community and nativity certificates, the announcement said. “Last year, we found fake embassy certificates in UG and PG applications. In some cases, students even managed to take the seat. We cancelled their admission, but we are still fighting court battles,” a senior official said. To intensify screening, the selection committee has a four-tier system to verify documents. While the first tier of staff, mostly outsourced, verifies if candidates completed the documents, staff in the second tier red-flag suspicious documents, and officials in the third and final tier decide on action to be taken. Officials are now verifying other documents, including NEET admit cards, relationship certificates, and minority certificates, besides community, nativity, and NRI certificates. “When candidates make a small mistake by mentioning the wrong sex or if they fail to submit some document, we give candidates time for correction. But if the mistake is with mala fide intentions, we cancel candidature,” the official added.