Third doctor to be booked since last May for endorsing fake documents

An Assistant Professor of Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) was booked by the Yeshwantpur police for endorsing documents for people seeking Aadhaar cards without verifying them.

The accused, Dr. Ramamurthy M.B., is the third government doctor to be booked in the last eight months for attesting fake documents and issuing letters of endorsement, said the police.

“An initial probe revealed that Dr. Ramamurthy had also shared a copy of his ID card along with the letter of endorsement, using which many beneficiaries have availed Aadhaar cards from Yeshwantpur. Many such Aadhaar beneficiaries obtained a driving licence and registered vehicles,” a police officer said.

The incident came to light when officials of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), during a routine audit, came across some suspicious documents. Upon cross-checking, they found that several Aadhaar cards, which had been obtained with false information, had been endorsed by Dr. Ramamurthy.

Based on these findings, Ashok Lenin, Deputy Director, UIDAI, filed a complaint with the police last Friday accusing the doctor of helping people get Aadhaar illegally, thus cheating the government. The Yeshwantpur police registered a case under various sections of the IT Act and Aadhaar Act.

"We have asked the UIDAI to provide details of the beneficiaries," a senior police officer said.

The police are not ruling out the possibility of a larger scam. "We suspect middlemen of luring doctors to help them get Aadhaar cards, which is becoming an essential document," the officer added.

Previous cases

December 2017: Bellandur police arrest seven persons, including six Bangladeshis, who had obtained Aadhaar cards using forged documents. Documents were attested by Dr. H.C. Lokesh, who works in a primary health centre in Bommasandra.

May 2017: Dr. C.S. Nagalakshammamal, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Jayanagar government hospital arrested for endorsing documents submitted by three Pakistanis for getting themselves enrolled to obtain Aadhaar cards during their illegal stay in Bengaluru.