Dehradun: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged irregularities in MBBS admissions under the freedom-fighter dependents quota in Uttarakhand has found that fake certificates submitted by at least four students featured an AI-generated photograph of a deceased freedom fighter.
According to police, the four students used the name of late freedom fighter Dharamveer, a resident of Dehradun’s Jhanda Bazar area, in documents submitted for admission under the quota in 2025.
Dehradun SP (Rural) Jaya Baluni, who is leading the seven-member SIT, said the photograph on the certificates appeared to resemble Dharamveer but had been generated using Artificial Intelligence. Other details mentioned on the certificates, including his father’s name, were found to be incorrect.
Police also found that the four students, who belonged to unrelated families, had all identified Dharamveer as their paternal and maternal grandfather.
The admission forms reportedly contained identical and non-existent contact details. The students had also provided the same mobile number, along with fake addresses and other personal information, police said.
The four students are already named in FIRs registered at Clement Town and Raipur police stations. However, police have not yet summoned them for questioning as the contact details provided in their documents were found to be fake.
As part of the investigation, police questioned Dharamveer’s son and grandson. The family reportedly told investigators that Dharamveer died around 12 years ago and that they were unaware of his certificate being used for the admissions.
Police said Dharamveer had instructed authorities during his lifetime not to transfer his pension to anyone after his death. His direct family members had also never claimed any benefit using his freedom-fighter certificate.
The SIT has sought relevant records from the SDM office to determine how the certificates were issued and used.
Police are now investigating whether an organised group was behind the alleged fraud. The SIT is also examining the possible involvement of officials in local administration and the management of medical colleges and universities, particularly over how the documents were issued and verified.
Investigators said the use of the same alleged relative, identical contact details and fabricated addresses across four unrelated applicants has raised questions about the verification process at multiple levels.
The investigation is ongoing.
