Fake NEET mark sheet exposes verification lapse at Mumbai’s JJ Hospital hostel

A forged NEET mark sheet showing 570 marks allegedly allowed a 21yearold youth who had actually scored just 90 out of 750 to illegally stay at Sir JJ Hospitalrsquos Old Boys Hostel for nearly two months by posing as a firstyear MBBS student police said The incident has exposed serious verification lapses at one of Mumbairsquos premier government medical institutionsThe accused Faisal Amiruddin Sheikh 21 was arrested by Sir JJ Marg police after hospital authorities discovered that he had no valid medical admission and had submitted forged academic documents to secure hostel accommodation A court has remanded Sheikh to police custody till December 19Representation picistockAccording to police sources Sheikh had failed to secure a medical seat last year but had assured his parents that he would perform better in NEET this year After scoring poorly again police said he allegedly fabricated documents instead of admitting the failure at home During questioning Sheikh reportedly told investigators that he forged the mark sheet to maintain the claim that he had entered medical collegeThe fraud came to light on December 12 during routine verification of hostel residents When questioned Sheikh claimed his admission had been ldquoupgradedrdquo to RML Medical College in Lucknow and that he would soon vacate the hostel However he failed to produce any proof raising suspicionSenior faculty later confirmed that Sheikh had not been allotted any roll number and was not enrolled as an MBBS student A detailed scrutiny of his hostel admission form and academic records revealed forged documents When confronted Sheikh allegedly admitted to fabricating the NEET mark sheet and misleading both his parents and the hospital administrationFollowing this hospital authorities handed him over to Sir JJ Marg police who registered a case for cheating forgery and related offences Police said they are examining the digital trail of the forged mark sheet including the use of mobile applications and are probing whether Sheikh acted alone or had assistance His mobile phone and laptop have been seizedSheikh is a resident of Uttar Pradesh His father works in Dubai his mother is a homemaker and he has two younger brothers one of whom studies in Pune Officials said the case highlights the urgent need for stricter verification mechanisms at hostels attached to medical institutions Further investigation is underwayUsed appPolice said Sheikh allegedly used the WPS mobile application to create a fake NEET mark sheet reflecting 570 marks Using this forged document he secured accommodation at Sir JJ Hospitalrsquos Old Boys Hostel which is meant exclusively for firstyear MBBS students Investigators said he stayed in the hostel for nearly two months without attending lectureslsquoI donrsquot have a sonrsquoDr Rewat Kaninde 37 medical officer and warden of Ward D Hostel No 95 who is the complainant in the case said he asked Sheikh to produce proof of the claimed admission upgradation When Sheikh said the documents were with his father Dr Kaninde asked him to make a phone callDuring the first call the person on the other end reportedly said he did not have a son immediately raising suspicion When confronted again Sheikh made another call during which the father confirmed his sonrsquos identity as Faisal Sheikh but categorically denied any admission or upgradation to a medical college in Uttar PradeshRoomie flags irregular staySuspicion deepened when Sheikhrsquos roommate told authorities that Faisal had not stayed in the hostel for nearly a month after admission and after returning had not been attending college regularly Sheikh had allegedly told fellow students that his admission had been upgraded and that he would soon leave the hostel