An investigation into alleged irregularities in MBBS admissions in Uttarakhand has found that an AI-generated photograph was used on forged certificates submitted to claim seats under the Freedom Fighter Dependent quota.
A seven-member Special Investigation Team of the Dehradun Police is investigating the case after authorities identified discrepancies in documents submitted by students during the medical admission process. The SIT was constituted on September 18 after the alleged irregularities surfaced.
According to Dehradun SP (Rural) Jaya Baluni, who is leading the investigation, documents submitted by at least four students from unrelated families contained an AI-generated photograph of late freedom fighter Dharamveer, a resident of Dehradun's Jhanda Bazar area. The photograph reportedly resembled the deceased freedom fighter, while other information on the certificates, including his father's name, was incorrect.
Investigators also found that the four students had claimed Dharamveer as their paternal or maternal grandfather despite having no familial connection with him. The admission forms allegedly contained addresses and contact information that could not be verified, while the same mobile number had been provided across multiple applications.
The MBBS admissions of four students have already been cancelled after authorities found that fraudulent documents had been submitted under the Freedom Fighter Dependent quota. FIRs have also been registered against the students and family members at Clement Town and Raipur police stations in Dehradun under provisions relating to cheating and document forgery.
Police have questioned the son and grandson of the deceased freedom fighter as part of the investigation. According to investigators, the family said it was unaware of how Dharamveer's credentials had been used. The SIT is examining whether a wider network was involved in producing or facilitating the allegedly forged documents.
The case has also prompted wider scrutiny of Uttarakhand's medical admission process. State authorities have ordered verification of around 350 suspected cases involving domicile and category certificates connected with MBBS state-quota admissions.
Uttarakhand's Medical Education Department has said that certificates submitted by candidates receiving benefits through state NEET counselling will now be physically sent to their issuing authorities for verification.
The investigation highlights another emerging misuse of generative AI, where synthetic imagery can be incorporated into allegedly fraudulent documentation. The probe remains ongoing, and authorities have not yet established the full extent of the suspected network.
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