Former BJP Councillor Arrested in Panchkula Over Fake Medical Degree Scandal
In a significant development exposing corruption in medical education, the Panchkula police have apprehended former municipal councillor and BJP leader Mahendra Kumar Juneja from Hisar. The arrest is linked to a case involving a fraudulent Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) degree, which Juneja allegedly procured for a staggering sum of Rs 10 lakh without ever attending requisite classes.
Clinic Operation and Judicial Custody
Juneja, who had been operating a clinic in Patel Nagar for several years, was presented before a Panchkula court following his arrest. The court subsequently remanded him to judicial custody, marking a serious escalation in the investigation. The scandal unraveled when Juneja applied for registration with the Council of Indian Medicine, Haryana, as part of standard professional verification procedures.
Discrepancies Uncovered During Verification
During the meticulous verification process conducted by the council, officials detected glaring inconsistencies in Juneja's submitted documents. These discrepancies prompted the council to file a formal police complaint, leading to the registration of a case at the Sector 5 police station in Panchkula on May 12, 2023. The First Information Report (FIR) names Juneja along with Dr Bansal, Dr Naveen, Dr Karan Sarna, and an unidentified individual, charging them under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code related to cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
Fake Certificate and Fraudulent Claims
Investigations revealed that the registration certificate submitted by Juneja was originally issued in the name of another person, confirming its fraudulent nature. The Council of Indian Medicine, upon thorough examination, officially declared the document as fake and recommended stringent legal action against all involved parties. This finding underscores the severity of the forgery and the potential risks to public health posed by unqualified practitioners.
Alleged Payment and Racket Involvement
In a written statement provided to the council, Juneja claimed that he was approached by an individual posing as a doctor, who offered to arrange an authentic BAMS degree for Rs 10 lakh. According to his account, he initially paid Rs 5 lakh and later disbursed the remaining amount in Panchkula. In return, he received fabricated academic certificates and a registration certificate. Juneja further alleged that the accused doctors were integral members of a larger racket specializing in issuing counterfeit medical degrees, suggesting that similar fraudulent documents, including MBBS degrees, could also be illicitly obtained through this network.
Cooperation and Investigation Expansion
Demonstrating a willingness to assist authorities, Juneja has expressed his readiness to cooperate fully with the investigation and has offered to become a government witness. He has also submitted his original documents to the council and has sought recovery of the money he allegedly paid for the fake degree. The Panchkula police are now intensifying their probe into the extensive network behind this fake degree racket, focusing on identifying intermediaries and other beneficiaries who may have exploited similar schemes.
Further investigation is actively underway to dismantle the entire operation and ensure that all perpetrators face justice, thereby safeguarding the integrity of medical education and practice in the region.
