Uttarakhand MBBS Admissions Cancelled; SIT Arrests 2

Uttarakhand MBBS admissions cancelled: the state's Medical Education Department has cancelled the MBBS admissions of four female students after the Freedom Fighter Dependent (FFD) quota certificates they submitted were found to be fake. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Dehradun Police has since arrested two people in the case, and the department has directed all participating medical colleges to verify the documents of candidates who claimed any category benefit during Uttarakhand NEET UG counselling 2026.

Latest Update: Two Arrested, Colleges Told to Verify Documents

The SIT, headed by SP (Rural) Jaya Baluni, has made its first two arrests in the case. The arrested persons are the owner of an educational consultancy firm in Meerut and the father of a NEET aspirant from Bahadurpur Khadar village in Haridwar district. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pramendra Dobhal said at a press briefing in Dehradun that important documents have been seized during the investigation.

Separately, the Medical Education Department has written to the principals of all 10 government and private medical colleges participating in the state counselling, asking them to verify the documents of every candidate who claimed a category or sub-category benefit. The direction came after the second round of counselling, in which around 300 more candidates secured MBBS seats, taking the total admitted through the first two rounds (held between August 13 and September 19) to 784.

How the Case Came to Light

The issue surfaced during scrutiny of documents submitted under the Freedom Fighter Dependent quota in Uttarakhand's NEET-UG counselling for MBBS admission. Director of Medical Education Ashutosh Sayana said the certificates of five candidates were found suspicious and were sent to the concerned district magistrates for verification. The certificates were confirmed as fake, and the admissions granted on their basis were cancelled for four candidates.

FIRs and Charges

Two cases were registered on September 13 at the Raipur and Clement Town police stations in Dehradun against the four students, under Sections 318(4), 338 and 340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which cover cheating and forgery. Five people in all have been booked in connection with the alleged use of forged certificates. A five-member SIT is jointly investigating both cases to establish how the certificates were prepared, who used them, and how they passed verification. SP Jaya Baluni has said the probe is at an early stage and that it is premature to say whether an organised gang was involved.

Wider Scrutiny: List of Around 350 Candidates

The controversy widened after social activist Pradeep Bahuguna met Health and Medical Education Minister Subodh Uniyal and submitted a list of around 350 candidates whose domicile and category certificates he wants verified. Bahuguna has clarified that he is not claiming every certificate on the list is fake, only that available records raise questions that need official checks. Suspecting the involvement of a larger racket, Uniyal directed the Dehradun District Magistrate to inquire and submit a report within a week. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that certificates of eight candidates were cancelled after the district administration found them forged, and has warned of stringent action against those involved.

Key Highlights

Four MBBS admissions cancelled after Freedom Fighter Dependent quota certificates were confirmed fake by district magistrates.
Two FIRs registered on September 13 at Raipur and Clement Town police stations, Dehradun, under BNS Sections 318(4), 338 and 340.
The SIT, headed by SP (Rural) Jaya Baluni, has arrested two people: a Meerut consultancy owner and the father of a NEET aspirant from Haridwar.
All 10 participating medical colleges have been told to verify documents of candidates who claimed category or sub-category benefits.
The Dehradun District Magistrate has been asked to report within a week on a list of around 350 candidates' certificates.
Round 3 of counselling (September 28 to October 9, as per the MCC schedule) is reportedly linked to completion of state-quota document verification.

Background: Uttarakhand NEET UG Counselling 2026

Uttarakhand's NEET-UG counselling for MBBS admission is conducted online by the state Medical Education Department for state-quota seats in government and private medical colleges. The Freedom Fighter Dependent quota is one of several reserved categories open to eligible candidates. The present case has put the verification of reserved-category and domicile documents at the centre of the admission process.

We have written to all the principals to do the needful.— Ashutosh Sayana, Director of Medical Education, Uttarakhand

What Happens Next

The Dehradun District Magistrate's report on the list of around 350 candidates is due within a week, and the SIT investigation into the two FIRs is ongoing. Any seats that fall vacant because an admission is cancelled are expected to be added to the third counselling round, scheduled from September 28 to October 9 under the MCC schedule. Officials have said the third round will proceed only after state-quota document verification is completed.

Impact on Candidates and the Admission Process

Candidates already admitted through the first two rounds of Uttarakhand NEET UG counselling 2026 should expect their category and domicile documents to be checked by their colleges. Any certificate found fraudulent, at any stage, can lead to cancellation of an admission already granted and to criminal action. Genuine reserved-category candidates should keep original certificates and issuing-authority details ready to avoid delays.