Chandigarh: A suspected cyber intrusion into the Haryana Medical Council’s old website has exposed an alleged fraud involving three young men who reportedly obtained fake registrations as doctors. The irregularities came to light when the council was transferring data from its old website to a new platform.
During the data migration process, the system generated an alert regarding three registration numbers that had never been officially issued but appeared as registered in the database. The alert prompted officials to investigate the discrepancies, eventually bringing the names of the three alleged accused to light.
Preliminary investigations reportedly revealed that the three men had claimed to possess No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Bihar Medical Council. However, when the documents were sent for verification, the NOCs were found to be allegedly forged.
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Dr Satish Kumar Khattar, chairman of the Haryana Medical Council, said a complaint regarding the suspected fraud had been filed at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Panchkula. The accused have been identified as Suman Kumar, Swarnab and Deepak Kumar.
Accused Made Claims About Their Medical Qualifications
According to the preliminary findings, Suman Kumar and Swarnab claimed to have completed their MBBS degrees from Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences, commonly known as PGIMS, in Rohtak.
The third accused, Deepak Kumar, reportedly claimed to have obtained his MBBS degree from Maharishi Markandeshwar University and Medical College in Ambala.
The council began scrutinizing their registration details after discovering that the registration numbers associated with them had not been officially issued. The discrepancy raised questions about how the entries had appeared in the system and whether the registration process had been manipulated through unauthorized access to the website.
The alleged use of forged NOCs also raised concerns about the authenticity of the documents submitted to support their registration applications.
Three Accused Failed to Appear Before the Council
As suspicions surrounding the registrations grew, the Haryana Medical Council summoned all three men to its office in Panchkula for verification of their original medical degrees and NOC documents.
The council wanted to examine the original certificates and establish whether the educational qualifications and documents submitted by the applicants were genuine.
However, none of the three accused appeared before the council on the scheduled date. Their absence further strengthened the authorities’ suspicions and prompted the council to lodge a formal complaint with the police.
The council is now seeking to establish how the alleged fraudulent registrations were processed and whether the accused gained unauthorized access to the website or exploited weaknesses in its registration system.
Cybercrime Police Investigating Website Manipulation
Following the complaint, cybercrime investigators are examining how the old website was allegedly compromised and how registration numbers that had never been officially issued came to appear in the system.
The investigation will also focus on the origin and authenticity of the NOCs allegedly submitted by the three accused. Officials are expected to examine the digital records associated with the registrations to determine how the entries were created and whether any additional individuals were involved.
The precise method used to manipulate the database has not yet been established. Investigators will need to determine whether the incident involved unauthorized access, exploitation of a technical vulnerability or another form of interference with the registration process.
Given the seriousness of the suspected fraud, the Haryana Medical Council has shut down its old website as a precautionary measure.
Questions Over Verification of Medical Registrations
The case has raised concerns about the security of digital systems used to maintain doctors’ registration records and the verification procedures followed before registrations are approved.
Medical registration is an important safeguard that helps establish whether a practitioner has the required qualifications and authorization to practise medicine. Any alleged manipulation of registration records can therefore create risks for the credibility of the professional verification system.
The incident also highlights the importance of validating registration numbers, verifying certificates directly with the issuing institutions and maintaining secure digital records during website upgrades and data transfers.
However, the allegations against the three men remain subject to investigation. The police are examining the suspected website breach, the allegedly forged NOCs and the circumstances in which the disputed registration entries appeared in the council’s database. Further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
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