The Economic Offences Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir (CBK) has filed charges against Numan Farooq Wani for allegedly posing as a qualified medical practitioner by submitting forged documents, including fake MBBS/MD certificates and Medical Council of India (MCI) registration, securing employment at SKIMS Medical College & Hospital in Bemina since December 2016.
Impersonation in a Government Hospital for Nearly a Decade
A formal complaint prompted the CBK to investigate Wani’s background, tracing his fraudulent credentials that allowed him to draw a salary and access employment responsibilities at SKIMS. Allegedly, he used counterfeit MCI and State Medical Council registrations to secure engagement with the institution. Police registered FIR No. 01/2023 under sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 201 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) — covering cheating, forgery, using forged documents, and destruction of evidence.
The charge sheet, submitted to the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Srinagar, concludes that Wani actively “drew a salary from the government exchequer” whilst working as a “fake doctor,” underlining the depth of the deception.
Broader Implications and Next Steps
The case raises significant concerns about verification protocols for medical staff, especially in public health institutions like SKIMS. Local officials have not yet indicated whether SKIMS administrators will face scrutiny for lapses in background checks. Wani is expected to stand trial soon, and authorities are reportedly investigating whether he impersonated a real doctor by using another’s registration number.
Experts warn that this is not an isolated incident. Similar cases, including in Odisha, have exposed a trend of individuals exploiting forged qualifications to infiltrate sensitive roles in healthcare and other sectors.
Public outcry over Wani’s deceits has prompted calls for stricter enforcement of medico-legal credential checks and digital verification systems across India. The CBK and broader law enforcement agencies may now consider auditing employment processes in government-funded health institutions.
About the Author – Anirudh Mittal is a B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, with a keen interest in corporate law and tech-driven legal change.