Odisha Doctor Held For Using Fake Caste Certificate To Study MBBS

Koraput: A startling revelation has emerged in Odisha, as a senior doctor from MKCG Medical College & Hospital in Berhampur has been apprehended on charges of using a fake caste certificate to secure both an MBBS seat and subsequently, a job. The accused, identified as Durgadatta Sasani, hails from the Samabaya Colony in the Semiliguda area of the tribal-dominated Koraput district.

Presently holding the position of assistant professor in the anesthesiology department at MKCG Medical College in Berhampur, Dr. Sasani’s arrest stems from a complaint filed by his younger brother on July 20, 2023. The complainant contends that Dr. Sasani, originally identified as a Brahmin, misrepresented himself as an Adivasi to gain admission to the MBBS program in 2006 and a specialization course in 2014 at MKCG Medical College. It is alleged that the accused procured a fraudulent caste certificate in 2003, adopting the surname ‘Jani’ and falsely asserting to be the son of an individual from Mandarguda village belonging to a scheduled tribe.

Having served as an assistant professor since 2021, Dr. Sasani’s arrest has sent shockwaves through the medical community, prompting concerns about the potential misuse of affirmative action policies. Ongoing investigations will shed light on the intricate details of this case, with its outcome poised to be closely monitored throughout the state.