MBBS exam scam: Forensic report links 24 students to tampered answer sheets

A forensic investigation has found that the handwriting of 24 MBBS students from a private college matches the content on tampered answer sheets pertaining to the MBBS exam scam that surfaced at Pt. BD Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak (UHSR), in January.

Following the findings, a disciplinary committee headed by Rohtak PGIMS Director Dr SK Singhal has issued show-cause notices to all 24 students directing them to submit their written responses within a week.

“The notices were served after a detailed internal review of the forensic handwriting report. Further action will depend on the reply submitted by the students,” Dr Singhal told The Tribune while confirming the forensic report.

According to sources, a team of forensic experts collected handwriting samples from 30 MBBS students in May as part of the probe. The students were instructed to write specific text on blank answer sheets to facilitate comparison. The forensic team then analysed the samples to determine whether any of them matched the content on tampered sheets submitted during the examinations.

The sample collection was conducted after most of the students allegedly involved in the malpractice denied any wrongdoing.

Sources further maintained that district police too had sent around 200 answer sheets to the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) in Sunaria village here at that time for detailed forensic examination but the report is still awaited.

“The main objective of the forensic probe is to determine whether the handwriting on all answer sheets of individual students is consistent, and whether erasable ink was used to attempt the answers,” the sources added.

The scam, first exposed by The Tribune, involves the smuggling of answer sheets during annual and supplementary exams from the university. The answer sheets were then re-attempted by students and re-submitted to the secrecy branch to fraudulently secure passing marks.

In total, 41 individuals, including 24 MBBS students of a private college and 17 university employees, were booked in February in connection with the scandal.