Solapur Fake Disability Certificate Racket: Resident Medical Officer Among 8 Arrested for Allegedly Issuing Bogus UDID Certificates

Solapur, Maharashtra, August 6: The Solapur City Crime Branch has uncovered an alleged fake disability certificate racket operating from Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj District Civil Hospital (Sarvopchar Hospital), Solapur, arresting eight people, including a 31-year-old resident medical officer, two hospital clerks, alleged middlemen, and beneficiaries. Police allege the accused issued bogus benchmark disability certificates and Unique Disability ID (UDID) approvals without mandatory medical examinations, charging applicants ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh to help them obtain or retain government jobs and access disability-related government benefits.

The case was registered after Dean Dr. Rutwik Devidas Jaykar filed a complaint on July 4, 2026, following an internal inquiry into irregularities in the hospital's disability certification process. The investigation is being led by the Solapur City Crime Branch.

According to Police Commissioner M. Rajkumar, the investigation began after Rajesh Bhausaheb Jadhav, a junior clerk from the Irrigation Department in Ahilyanagar, allegedly obtained a disability certificate using a fake Aadhaar card carrying a Solapur address despite being an Ahilyanagar resident.

Investigators said Jadhav had secured a government job in 2012 using a disability certificate and later sought an online UDID for continued service or additional benefits. After his application in Ahilyanagar was reportedly rejected, he allegedly approached agents who helped him obtain a certificate through Solapur Civil Hospital.

Marathi media reports state that the social organisation Savali first raised concerns over the certificate, prompting Dean Dr. Jaykar to appoint a three-member inquiry committee before filing a police complaint. Owing to the seriousness of the allegations, the probe was transferred to the Crime Branch.

Police scrutinised 3,714 disability certificates issued by the hospital between January 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.

According to Commissioner Rajkumar, investigators have so far identified eight certificates that were allegedly issued using forged documents and without verification by specialist doctors. Authorities are now examining whether more fraudulent certificates were generated through the same network.

Also see: Rajasthan Fake FMGE Certificate Racket, 3 More Foreign Medical Graduates Arrested, Total Arrests Reach 25

The arrested accused include:

• Dr. Satish Kanake, 31-year-old Resident Medical Officer

• Rajesh Bhausaheb Jadhav

• Mahesh Dinkar Bargaje

• Rajesh Ramakant Dhawan

• Vijay Babasaheb Garje, a Zilla Parishad school teacher

• Arun Ramdas Shimpi, an e-service centre operator from Nashik

• Wasim Shaukat Khan, junior clerk

• Sagar Rajput, senior clerk

Police said Dr. Kanake was arrested on August 3 and remanded to police custody until August 7. Hospital clerks Khan and Rajput had been arrested earlier on July 29, and suspension proceedings have been initiated against them.

According to investigators, applicants seeking fake disability certificates for government employment allegedly contacted middlemen who charged ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh.

Police allege forged Aadhaar cards and supporting documents were prepared before online applications were submitted through Solapur Civil Hospital. The mandatory physical examination by specialist doctors was allegedly bypassed, while approvals were generated after accessing the Dean's OTP, which is required for online authentication.

Marathi media reports identify Vijay Babasaheb Garje, a Zilla Parishad teacher from Ahilyanagar, as the alleged mastermind who coordinated the network across Solapur, Ahilyanagar and Nashik. Police, however, continue to investigate the roles of all accused.

Police allege Dr. Satish Kanake repeatedly accessed the Dean's OTP to approve fraudulent disability certificates without completing mandatory medical board examinations.

Investigators have seized computers allegedly used to create fake Aadhaar cards and process online disability certificate applications. Forensic examination of the digital evidence is underway.

According to Marathi media reports, investigators are also examining an alleged money trail in which payments made by applicants were distributed among members of the network. Police have not yet officially confirmed the complete financial transactions.

Also see: Fake Clinic Busted in Gurugram, Man Allegedly Treated Patients Without Medical Degree for 6 Years

Under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, benchmark disability certificates are issued only after assessment by an authorised medical board. These certificates enable eligible persons with disabilities to access reservations in education and employment, government welfare schemes, financial assistance, and other legal benefits.

The accused have been booked under Sections 318(4), 337(3), 338, 340, 233, 235 and 2(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The investigation is being supervised by Police Commissioner M. Rajkumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Dr. Ashwini Patil, Assistant Commissioner of Police Dilip Pawar, Senior Police Inspector Arvind Mane, and Assistant Police Inspector Shailesh Khedkar.

Police said they are reviewing all 3,714 disability certificates issued since January 2025 to identify additional fraudulent approvals and determine whether more hospital employees, agents or beneficiaries were involved. Officials have not ruled out further arrests as the investigation continues.

(Rh/ARC/MSM)