Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh: Authorities in Uttar Pradesh have uncovered a case of medical fraud in which a man without any recognised medical qualification worked as a cardiology specialist at the Autonomous State Medical College in Lalitpur by using forged documents belonging to his brother-in-law.
The accused, Abhinav Singh, a 57-year-old engineering graduate secured a contractual appointment at the medical college under the National Health Mission (NHM) in 2022 using fraudulent medical degrees and documents bearing the name of his brother-in-law, Dr. Rajiv Gupta, a cardiologist based in Texas, United States.
Police investigations confirmed that Singh does not hold an MBBS or MD degree and is an engineering graduate by education.
The case came to light in December 2025 after Dr. Sonali Singh, wife of cardiologist Dr. Rajiv Gupta and sister of Abhinav Singh, submitted a written complaint to the medical college administration and district authorities. She stated that her husband’s medical degrees and identity were being used without consent to obtain a specialist post.
Dr. Rajiv Gupta is a cardiologist currently based in Texas, United States. Investigators stated that Abhinav Singh allegedly altered documents and impersonated him during recruitment and verification.
College authorities confirmed that Abhinav Singh was appointed on a contractual basis and posted to the Cardiac Care Unit of the medical college hospital. During his tenure, he attended patients, conducted clinical assessments, and participated in treatment related activities within the cardiology unit.
After the inquiry began, college officials clarified that Singh was primarily assigned routine duties such as monitoring patients and maintaining records. Officials stated that he was not officially assigned invasive cardiac procedures.
Officials stated that his medical qualifications were not verified at the time of recruitment, which allowed the forged credentials to go undetected.
Following the complaint, Dr. Mayank Shukla, Principal of the Autonomous State Medical College, Lalitpur, forwarded the matter to the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed, for verification.
Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed ordered investigation of the submitted documents and constituted an internal inquiry committee. During this period, Abhinav Singh submitted a resignation letter claiming that his mother had died. Local officials later verified that the claim was false.
Singh left the institution soon after and remained untraceable for a brief period.
After the case became public, Abhinav Singh spoke to a reporter from Dainik Bhaskar. When asked about the matter, he denied the allegations and stated that he was Rajiv Gupta. He claimed the case was the result of a family dispute with his sister.
He further alleged that his sister contacted the American Embassy and later filed an application due to the dispute. When asked if he considered himself Rajiv Gupta, Singh said he did and stated that there was no evidence to prove otherwise.
He denied preparing any fake documents and stated that someone else had created them. When asked whether the medical degree used for employment belonged to him or his brother in law, Singh told the reporter that the degree was his.
Based on a complaint filed by the Additional Chief Medical Officer, Lalitpur police registered an FIR at Kotwali Police Station under sections related to cheating, forgery, and fraud.
Police later arrested Abhinav Singh and produced him before a local court, which remanded him to judicial custody.
Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mustaque stated that investigators are examining how forged documents passed verification and whether the accused used the false identity to obtain additional official records.
Police records show that Abhinav Singh holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Computer Science and previously worked in the Customs Department. In 1999, he faced a corruption case and absconded for several years.
A Central Bureau of Investigation team arrested him in 2019 in Mathura. A special court later sentenced him to imprisonment and imposed a fine. He was released in 2020.
Investigators stated that after his release, Singh allegedly forged medical certificates and identity documents to secure employment at the Lalitpur medical college.
Police officials are investigating whether the forged identity was used to obtain additional official documents, including licences.
Health authorities are also reviewing whether salary paid to Singh during his tenure under the National Health Mission can be recovered, as public funds were disbursed based on fraudulent credentials.
Officials stated that the investigation remains ongoing and further action will depend on findings related to document verification failures and administrative oversight.
(Rh/MSM)
