Vijayanagara, Karnataka: A growing scam to fraudulently secure government MBBS seats under the disability quota has unraveled further with the arrest of two more doctors and a First Division Assistant (FDA). The arrests point to deeper malpractice involving fake disability certificates and misuse of the Unique Disability ID (UDID) system.
The investigation began after H Prasanna, Executive Director of the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), flagged 21 suspicious disability certificate submissions, all claiming hearing impairments. These were used to obtain medical seats under the KEA’s disabled quota, despite the candidates being ineligible for UDID cards.
Following his directive, KEA Administrator Islauddin Gadyal filed a formal complaint at Malleshwaram Police Station in Bengaluru.
Initial arrests included Dr Sudhakar, an ophthalmologist at Mangalore PHC in Koppal’s Kukanur taluk. Now, two more doctors have been taken into custody:
Dr Hariprasad, RMO at Hosapete Subdivision Government Hospital
Dr Srinivas, paediatrician at Kamalapur Government Hospital
Joining them is Umesh Nagappa Chowdhury, a former FDA at the district hospital. He is accused of validating and issuing UDID cards for at least 20 ineligible candidates — seven in March–April, and 13 more on July 9 at Hagaribommanahalli Government Hospital, where he was recently transferred.
The District Health Officer (DHO), Dr LR Shankar Naik, claimed that most fraudulent applications originated from Bengaluru, distancing the local hospitals from wrongdoing. However, this has been challenged internally.
A senior physician, speaking anonymously, questioned the negligence: “Why didn’t doctors notice that subordinates were issuing UDIDs without authorization?”
Further doubts surround the 13 UDID cases from Hagaribommanahalli, a hospital that reportedly lacks an ENT specialist or any officer officially permitted to issue disability certificates.
It is suspected that Ashok, a case worker who is now absconding, forged and issued these documents.
Deputy Commissioner Kavita S Mannikeri confirmed that a detailed investigation is underway, and the DHO has submitted a full report. “The district administration is closely monitoring the entire situation,” she said.
Meanwhile, DHO Naik reiterated that the health department is cooperating fully with the ongoing police probe.
