Maharashtra Cyber has uncovered an alleged interstate racket that created fake Foreign Medical Graduate Examination documents to help foreign-trained medical graduates obtain registration to practise medicine in India.
Three people have been arrested after investigators found that some applicants who had failed the mandatory FMGE were allegedly in possession of medical registration certificates.
The case was registered after the Maharashtra Medical Council detected discrepancies during scrutiny of registration applications and approached Maharashtra Cyber for investigation.
The FIR has been registered as Case No. 72/2026 at the Nodal Cyber Police Station, Maharashtra Cyber, Mumbai, under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.
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Failed FMGE Candidates Allegedly Obtained Registration
The case involves Indian citizens who completed their medical degrees abroad.
Foreign medical graduates are required to clear the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination before they can seek registration to practise medicine in India.
During scrutiny, the Maharashtra Medical Council allegedly found that some candidates who had not cleared the screening test still possessed medical registration certificates.
That discovery triggered a deeper examination of the scorecards, certificates and supporting documents submitted during the registration process.
Two Arrested Applicants Had Allegedly Failed the Exam
The first two accused are themselves applicants.
They have been identified as Varun Prataprao Akhade, 28, and Sanket Prabhakar Unhale, 26, both residents of Buldhana district.
Maharashtra Cyber alleges that both had failed to qualify the prescribed FMGE but nevertheless obtained and possessed medical registration certificates.
Investigators then examined digital records, system logs and transaction trails to determine how the allegedly false documents had been prepared and submitted.
Probe Leads to Alleged Key Operative in Nashik
The investigation subsequently led to Rahul Gopal Patil, 35, a resident of Nashik district.
Police suspect Patil played a key role in preparing or arranging fake FMGE scorecards, certificates and other supporting papers for applicants.
According to Maharashtra Cyber, Patil allegedly provided such documents to around 15 to 20 applicants in return for monetary payments.
He has now been arrested and is being questioned to identify others allegedly involved in preparing, transmitting and using the forged records.
Why FMGE Matters
The FMGE is a screening examination conducted for Indian citizens or Overseas Citizens of India who obtain their primary medical qualification from institutions outside India and seek registration to practise medicine in the country.
Clearing the examination is one of the key eligibility requirements for such graduates to enter the Indian medical-registration system.
That makes alleged falsification of an FMGE scorecard particularly serious.
A forged pass result could potentially allow someone who has not cleared the required screening process to appear eligible for medical registration.
Fake Scorecards and Certificates Under Examination
Investigators are examining the allegedly forged FMGE scorecards and certificates to determine how closely they replicated genuine documents.
They are also analysing whether registration systems were manipulated, whether any insider assistance was involved and how many applications may have relied on fabricated records.
The available investigation does not yet establish that all 15–20 suspected applicants successfully obtained registration.
Police are still determining who submitted the documents, who received registration and what role each person played.
Digital Logs Helped Uncover the Network
Maharashtra Cyber said technical analysis was central to identifying the suspects.
Investigators examined digital records, system logs, communications and financial transactions associated with the registrations.
Such evidence can help establish when documents were created, transmitted or uploaded and which devices or accounts were used.
It can also show whether similar forged documents were generated for multiple applicants.
Investigation Could Expand Beyond Maharashtra
Police have described the alleged racket as interstate in nature.
That raises the possibility that applicants or intermediaries outside Maharashtra may also have used the same network.
Investigators are examining the arrested accused’s phones, transaction history and communications to identify additional candidates and facilitators.
If fake FMGE records were used before other state medical councils, Maharashtra Cyber may need to coordinate with regulators and police agencies outside the state.
Medical Registration Adds a Public-Safety Dimension
This case goes beyond an ordinary document-forgery investigation.
Medical registration determines who is legally permitted to practise medicine.
If an applicant bypasses a mandatory qualification requirement through forged documents, the consequences can extend to patient safety and confidence in the medical-registration system.
That is why verifying not only the document itself but also the examination result against the issuing authority’s database is important.
Maharashtra Cyber Warns Against Middlemen
Maharashtra Cyber has warned foreign medical graduates against approaching intermediaries who claim they can bypass mandatory examinations or secure registration through unofficial channels.
The agency said applicants should comply with statutory and regulatory requirements and warned that fabricated documents or misuse of digital systems can lead to criminal action.
The three arrested accused have not been convicted, and all allegations remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.
What this means for you
Foreign medical graduates should verify FMGE results and registration procedures only through official NBEMS and medical-council channels. Anyone promising registration despite a failed mandatory examination should be treated as a serious fraud and legal-risk warning sign.
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