Two Civil Hospital lab technicians held for faking dope test reports

The police have taken two contractual laboratory technicians from the Ludhiana Civil Hospital into custody following an investigation that uncovered a scam of forging medical documents. The duo allegedly fabricated at least eight negative dope test reports, a mandatory requirement to enable applicants to secure firearm licences they might not have otherwise qualified for.

The arrests come as the authorities grapple with a growing issue of manipulated medical paperwork being used to circumvent official licensing protocols across the city.

The suspects were identified as Ram Kumar and Avtar Singh, both of whom were working in the hospital’s laboratory on a contractual basis.

ADCP-1 Sameer Verma while addressing a press conference said the technicians used to accept payments from applicants in exchange of producing fraudulent negative test results, often without even conducting the required medical examination. A case was registered against the duo under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, covering serious offences such as cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy.

The ADCP said the suspects had been employed at the hospital for several years. They meticulously falsified doctor’s signatures and used counterfeit stamps to prepare the bogus dope test reports. Two of the fake official stamps integral to the operation had been seized by the police.

“Now, the police would question the suspects in an effort to identify any other accomplices involved and to calculate the exact amount of money exchanged for each fabricated document. No one will be spared if found involved in issuing fake dope test reports,” Verma added.