Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday attended the convocation of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Parel, which is at the centre of the fake certificate scam.
The Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) had suspended for a year the licences of 20 doctors who secured diploma certificates from the college. Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar also attended the event.
A doctor, on condition of anonymity, said, “The minister should have boycotted the event. It is odd that the government has still not intervened in the matter. Ministers are attending the event though the MMC has unearthed a major scam.”
The college offers two-year diplomas and three-year degrees to doctors in subjects such as paediatrics, gynaecology, cardiology and general surgery. Last year, the MMC found that the college had issued fake marksheets and degrees. One of the doctors who did not appear for inquiry was suspended for five years.
53 doctors under lens
The MMC also filed an FIR against the doctors at Agripada police station. “We have taken the issue seriously as these unqualified doctors are dealing with lives,” said Dr. Shivkumar Utture, MMC president.
Dr. Utture confirmed that another 53 doctors were being investigated in the scam. He said, “We have also informed the medical education ministry about our investigation so far and its findings.” Sources said a few doctors under investigation had confessed to have paid ₹5 lakh to ₹6 lakh for the fake degrees. CPS head Dr. Girish Maindarkar could not be reached for comment.
