Mumbai: One more arrested in fake medical certificate scam

The investigations are ongoing with the hospital authorities. File pic

Yet another individual has been apprehended in connection with the fake medical certificate scam at the Shatabdi hospital. The Bangur Nagar police have arrested a 35-year-old security guard named Amol Rajendra Vatkar, employed by a security company at Laxmi Nagar in Goregaon.

According to police sources, on October 17, Vatkar was on duty at the Laxmi Nagar builder site, where nearby shops were being demolished. It is alleged that one Nasirudin Khan was constructing a hut out of bamboo to reclaim the demolished site. When Vatkar and his associates intervened, Khan reportedly attacked them, causing injuries to Vatkar and another security guard named Gurmeet Dulgaj, 31. They were subsequently examined at Shatabdi hospital. Dulgaj, who was also injured, filed a complaint with the Bangur Nagar police station.

The police registered a case against Khan and his associates based on Dulgaj's complaint, citing relevant offences. The severity of Vatkar's ear injury, as indicated in the medical report and certificate provided by the doctor, led to the inclusion of Section 326 in the case, making it a non-bailable offence.

During the investigation, PSI Hemlata Vaze, the officer handling the case, requested documents related to the incident from the hospital records. While the doctor's report in Dulgaj's case paper was accurate and consistent with the hospital records, discrepancies were found in the additional details written on the back page of Vatkar's report.

Upon being alerted by the hospital, the investigating officer brought the matter to the attention of senior officers. Acting on their instructions, a case was registered against Vatkar and others under sections 465, 468, 471, 193, 196, 197, 198, and 120(B) of the IPC, leading to Vatkar's arrest.

During interrogation, the name of a compounder from Shatabdi hospital surfaced, alleging that he had fabricated the false report in the case paper. Despite the doctor's recommendation for an ENT department check-up, Vatkar allegedly consulted the compounder at the hospital and he added additional details to the case paper.

Senior Inspector Pramod Tawde said that the name of the alleged compounder has been disclosed, and investigations are ongoing with the hospital authorities. He emphasised that they are collecting information and reviewing hospital footage, and if the compounder's involvement is confirmed, he will be arrested accordingly.

Oct 17
Day confrontation occurred