Editor Mr.Mayank Rawat ( Chief Editor Mr. Rohit Mishra )
New Delhi: The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of Delhi govt has uncovered a massive fake pharmacy registration racket, leading to the arrest of 46 persons, including a former registrar and a clerk of Delhi Pharmacy Council (DPC), besides three dozen ‘fake pharmacists’.
The investigation has revealed that the fake registrations were not limited to a few isolated cases, but were rather a systematic and widespread practice involving multiple stakeholders, including pharmacy colleges, registration authorities and govt officials.
The ACB chief, joint commissioner Madhur Verma, said the former registrar illegally approved the registration of several pharmacists using forged documents.
“The scam was facilitated through a dubious private firm. Investigations suggest that a large number of pharmacists and chemists in Delhi are operating businesses on the basis of fake registrations, with some individuals not even having completed matriculation,” he added.
According to sources, the number could exceed 1,000.
The ACB began probing the racket in Jan last year after receiving a complaint from the health and family welfare department. The complaint alleged that the then DPC registrar, identified as Kuldeep Singh, gave his approval to three pharmacists on the basis of fake documents.
The ACB conducted a detailed preliminary enquiry and eventually sought a proposal from the Directorate of Vigilance to prosecute Singh under the Prevention of Corruption (PoC) Act. The approval was granted in April, after which an FIR under relevant sections of IPC and PoC Act was registered and an investigation initiated.
Verma said the probe revealed some startling details. Singh allegedly approved a staggering 4,928 registrations of pharmacists during his tenure from March 17, 2020 till Sept 25, 2023. The individual verification of documents also revealed that at least three dozen pharmacists were allegedly given approvals based on fake documents in lieu of bribes. The number is likely to go up, he said.
“A total of 35 pharmacists/chemists have been arrested in the first phase of the investigation. Scrutiny of the remaining registrations is ongoing, but it’s clear that the scale of the scam is enormous,” Verma added.
The ACB found that online registration of pharmacists was outsourced to a private firm, VMC, without a tendering process, violating established procedures. The company, operating since July 2020, allegedly allowed applicants to upload fake certificates, which were then verified by complicit college employees through email. A key tout, Sanjay, acted as a middleman, taking bribes from applicants, Verma said.
The investigation also uncovered other malpractices. Some applicants submitted different sets of documents in multiple applications, but their approvals were granted without objections, Verma said. Bogus verification emails were allegedly sent from fabricated email addresses to validate counterfeit certificates. “Even after Singh left office, he continued approving applications via his personal email, registering 232 additional candidates before his final suspension,” the joint CP added.
The ACB seized multiple forged documents, including training certificates and diplomas, as well as computer systems and printers used for printing fake certificates. A designer, Neeraj, was identified as the source of printing the fake credentials, and analysis of his computer system revealed the production of numerous fraudulent documents, said Verma.
“A comprehensive investigation is in progress to unearth the conspiracy and fix the role and culpability of the remaining alleged officials and private persons,” he added.
Pointing out that the scam had serious implications, a senior health department official said, “Many pharmacists and chemists in Delhi are operating businesses on the basis of fake registrations, putting public health at risk. Some individuals haven’t even completed matriculation, let alone the necessary training and qualifications to practice pharmacy. This means that people are being prescribed medicines and treated by unqualified individuals, which can have serious consequences, including adverse reactions, misdiagnosis, and even death.”
Mayank Rawat
