Bhaskar identifies 14 fake doctors in MP health system:Degrees issued before MBBS; no registration in official records

14 fake doctors found in MP’s Sanjeevani Clinics, patients treated using forged degrees and fake registrations. A major irregularity has surfaced in the appointment of doctors at Madhya Pradesh’s Sanjeevani Clinics. An investigation conducted across 10 districts has revealed that at least 14 doctors secured government jobs using fake degrees, forged Medical Council registrations or registration numbers belonging to other doctors. What makes the case more serious is that these doctors continued treating patients in government-run clinics from February 2025 despite the discrepancies. Many of the irregularities could have been detected through a simple verification on the Medical Council website. Following the revelations, the National Health Mission (NHM) has launched a wider probe into contractual medical officers across the state. How the fraud came to light The investigation found multiple methods allegedly used to obtain appointments. Some doctors used registration numbers belonging to genuine doctors, while others submitted registration numbers that did not exist in Medical Council records. In several cases, documents were allegedly created using Artificial Intelligence and photo-editing software. Despite these glaring discrepancies, appointments were approved, and doctors were posted at Sanjeevani Clinics across Madhya Pradesh. According to officials: • Four doctors have already left their jobs.
• Ten others are currently absent.
• FIRs will be registered against doctors found using fake documents.
• Salaries paid to such doctors will be recovered. NHM Additional Managing Director Disha Pranay Nagvanshi said notices would be issued to the concerned Chief Medical and Health Officers (CMHOs) and action would be taken against those responsible. Patients lose trust in clinics The impact of the revelations is now being felt on the ground. Patients in several districts have started avoiding Sanjeevani Clinics after learning about the fake doctor appointments. Reports indicate: • One clinic in Damoh has not received a single patient for three days.
• Some centres are seeing only patients who require regular BP and diabetes medicines.
• In several places, clinics are functioning mainly with outsourced staff. The controversy has raised questions about the verification process used before appointments were made. Doctors resigned as the investigation widened Several doctors resigned shortly after investigations began, leading officials to suspect they anticipated action. Among them: • Akash Chandelkar, posted in Shivpuri, resigned on May 19 citing preparation for competitive examinations.
• Harendra Dinkar of Morena resigned two days after police action against fake doctors began in Damoh. He cited family responsibilities and farming work.
• Mukesh Jatav and Mukesh Kumar from Vidisha stopped reporting to duty after being asked to submit documents. According to Vidisha CMHO Dr. Ramhit Kumar, doubts regarding the qualifications of both doctors emerged during an inspection. Despite informing NHM in November 2025, no action was reportedly taken at the time. AI-generated certificates and forged records The investigation found several cases where certificates, registrations and mark sheets appeared to be generated using AI tools or manipulated through software. Some of the key findings include: • Arun Kumar: Submitted a fake registration number. The investigation found the registration certificate was AI-generated.
• Kamal Kishor: Registration number and mark sheets were found suspicious, with mismatched fonts in documents.
• Pawan Solanki: Used another doctor’s registration number and submitted a fake degree.
• Sonam Yadav: Posted in Bairagarhkalan, Bhopal. The registration certificate was allegedly AI-generated and the registration number was fake.
• Shanti Sahu: Posted in Chhindwara. Registration documents and mark sheets were found suspicious, and local verification was not conducted. More doctors under scrutiny The investigation also flagged several other cases. • Mukesh Jatav used another doctor’s registration number. Registration documents were allegedly generated through AI, while mark sheets appeared edited.
• Omkar Singh Gurjar’s educational timeline contained major inconsistencies.
• Monica Soni used a registration number belonging to another doctor. The QR code on documents did not work on official platforms.
• Akash Chandelkar used a registration number with no official record.
• Harendra Singh Dinkar had mismatched marks and multiple enrolment numbers.
• Mukesh Kumar allegedly used another doctor’s registration and submitted AI-generated documents.
• Buddhaman’s registration was found fake and the QR code opened in a text file rather than an official portal.
• Mohar Singh’s degree issuance date appeared months before the examination itself. Damoh clinic case raises fresh concerns One of the most disturbing findings emerged from Damoh. At a government Sanjeevani Clinic, investigators found treatment charts pasted on walls with standard medicine doses for fever, cough and cold based on age and body weight. Police say fake doctor Kumar Sachin Yadav allegedly treated patients using these charts. Medicines such as Paracetamol, Amoxicillin and Cetirizine were prescribed according to fixed instructions displayed on the wall. Police arrested him from the clinic on May 16. Statewide verification begins The crackdown has now expanded beyond the initial cases. Late on Wednesday night, an FIR was registered against nine doctors at Chuna Bhatti police station in Bhopal. Their services have already been terminated. Following the action, NHM has begun examining the educational records, registrations and credentials of around 80 contractual medical officers working across the state. The investigation has exposed serious gaps in the verification system and raised concerns over how doctors with forged qualifications were allowed to work in government health facilities and treat patients for months before being detected.