Doctor Who Secured Medical Seat Using Fake Domicile Certificate Sentenced to Three Years’ Rigorous Imprisonment After 15 Years

Bhopal:
In a landmark verdict exposing malpractice in medical admissions, a district court in Bhopal has sentenced a doctor to three years of rigorous imprisonment for fraudulently securing a medical seat using a fake domicile certificate.

The court of 23rd Additional Sessions Judge Atul Saxena found Sunil Sonkar guilty of cheating and forgery in connection with the 2010 Pre-Medical Test (PMT) conducted by the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (Vyapam).

Along with the jail term, the court also imposed a fine of ₹2,000 on the convict.

State Quota Seat Illegally Usurped

Investigations revealed that although Sonkar had qualified the entrance examination, he illegally availed the benefit of the Madhya Pradesh state quota by submitting a forged domicile certificate. By using fabricated documents during the admission process, he wrongfully occupied a medical seat meant for a genuine and deserving candidate.

The court observed that such acts not only constitute criminal fraud but also undermine the integrity of the education and healthcare systems.

STF Investigation Led to Conviction

Following a formal complaint, the Special Task Force (STF), Bhopal, conducted a detailed investigation which confirmed that the domicile certificate submitted by the accused was forged.

During the trial, Special Public Prosecutors Aqeel Khan and Sudhavijay Singh Bhadoriya presented strong documentary evidence and witness testimonies. The court held the accused guilty under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code for cheating, forgery and use of forged documents.

Court Sends Strong Message

The verdict comes nearly 15 years after the offence, reinforcing the principle that fraud, even if detected late, will not escape punishment.

It is noteworthy that several irregularities had surfaced during the Vyapam-conducted examinations of that period. Many cases related to the scam are still pending before courts, while several accused have already been convicted and dismissed from service.

The present judgment marks a significant step toward accountability in cases where fake residential documents were used to secure professional education.