Meet docs who had issued certificates to Harsh and Komal
Dr Jatin Sanandiya of civil hospital and Dr Bhadresh Shah of Aarambh hospital refused they were offered money to issue fake certificates to the two students
By Yogesh Avasthi , Vipul Rajput
Posted On Friday, April 16, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2010041620100416025610658c237b672)
Pics - Jignesh Vora
Dr Bhadresh Shah outside Aarambh Orthopaedic Hospital at Ankur Char Rasta. It is alleged he had falsely certified that Komal Patel had injured her hand
Mirror reporters have found out the names of doctors who allegedly issued fake fracture certificates to Harsh Kotak and Komal Patel, both from influential families, so they could engage brilliant students as writers to take their exams. Harsh reportedly got his certificate from Dr Jatin Sanandiya, assistant professor of the orthopaedic department at civil hospital, while Komal got it from Dr Bhadresh Shah of Aarambh Orthopaedic Hospital at Ankur Char Rasta.
The scam came to light on March 14, 2008 when the two students appeared for exams at A G High School in Navrangpura. Harsh and Komal, children of prominent builders Pravin Kotak and Sanjay Patel, were caught during a surprise check conducted by the then Principal Secretary (Education) P Paneervel. The two were subjected to a medical test at the civil hospital, where another doctor confirmed they had no injuries.
Dr Sanandiya admitted he had issued a medical certificate to Harsh. However, he clarified that he had never mentioned the word ‘fracture’ anywhere in the document.
“I noticed tenderness. I wrote that Harsh had a soft tissue injury. If wearing splints does not help, the patient should undergo an MRI in a couple of days,” he said.
I did not recommend a writer for the patient: Dr Sanandiya
Refuting allegations that he had been offered money or gifts in exchange for the certificate, Dr Sanandiya said, “I had observed all the necessary procedures while issuing the certificate. I never recommended that the patient be allowed a writer. I just requested that he be given extra time to complete the paper. When the case broke, a departmental inquiry was set up. The committee cleared my name.
“I have been under stress ever since the two students were caught. I sometimes feel I had committed a mistake by issuing the certificate.”
A third doctor named
The doctor, who was later transferred to Surat, added: “The patient came to me with a certificate from Dr Dinesh Agrawal who has a hospital near Mansi Towers. There was a lot written in the report that I ignored.”
Interestingly, the police records do not contain Dr Agrawal’s name. Did Dr Sanandiya forget to mention this point to the cops?
Dr Agrawal, who runs Raksha orthopaedic hospital at Judges Bungalows, says he knows nothing about the case. “I am not involved in this scandal. I have no records of cases registered in 2008,” he said.
Passing the buck
Dr Sanandiya also added that the Crime Branch had recorded his statement recently. They also recorded the ‘expert’ statement of Dr J V Modi, he claimed. However, Dr Modi denied this.
The reporters then called medical superintendent M M Prabhakar. He said, “The case is over a year old. I do not remember if such a committee was set up. Ask the resident medical officer for details.”
This statement comes as a surprise as RMO S B Shrimali revealed, “Dr Prabhakar was the chairman of the committee inquiring into allegations against Dr Sanandiya. I do not have any documents. Dr Prabhakar will know more.”
I don’t remember anything
The reporters also got in touch with Dr Bhadresh Shah. Refusing he had been offered money to issue the certificate, he said, “Komal had fractured the scaphoid bone. In such cases, the patient feels pain but the injury becomes evident only 10-15 days later.”
Asked why the Patels, who live in Vastrapur, came all the way to the hospital at Ankur Char Rasta, the doctor said, “I have no idea. Today, I do not even remember what I had written in the certificate.”
By Yogesh Avasthi , Vipul Rajput
Posted On Friday, April 16, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2010041620100416025610658c237b672)
Pics - Jignesh Vora
Mirror reporters have found out the names of doctors who allegedly issued fake fracture certificates to Harsh Kotak and Komal Patel, both from influential families, so they could engage brilliant students as writers to take their exams. Harsh reportedly got his certificate from Dr Jatin Sanandiya, assistant professor of the orthopaedic department at civil hospital, while Komal got it from Dr Bhadresh Shah of Aarambh Orthopaedic Hospital at Ankur Char Rasta.
The scam came to light on March 14, 2008 when the two students appeared for exams at A G High School in Navrangpura. Harsh and Komal, children of prominent builders Pravin Kotak and Sanjay Patel, were caught during a surprise check conducted by the then Principal Secretary (Education) P Paneervel. The two were subjected to a medical test at the civil hospital, where another doctor confirmed they had no injuries.
Dr Sanandiya admitted he had issued a medical certificate to Harsh. However, he clarified that he had never mentioned the word ‘fracture’ anywhere in the document.
“I noticed tenderness. I wrote that Harsh had a soft tissue injury. If wearing splints does not help, the patient should undergo an MRI in a couple of days,” he said.
I did not recommend a writer for the patient: Dr Sanandiya
Refuting allegations that he had been offered money or gifts in exchange for the certificate, Dr Sanandiya said, “I had observed all the necessary procedures while issuing the certificate. I never recommended that the patient be allowed a writer. I just requested that he be given extra time to complete the paper. When the case broke, a departmental inquiry was set up. The committee cleared my name.
“I have been under stress ever since the two students were caught. I sometimes feel I had committed a mistake by issuing the certificate.”
A third doctor named
The doctor, who was later transferred to Surat, added: “The patient came to me with a certificate from Dr Dinesh Agrawal who has a hospital near Mansi Towers. There was a lot written in the report that I ignored.”
Interestingly, the police records do not contain Dr Agrawal’s name. Did Dr Sanandiya forget to mention this point to the cops?
Dr Agrawal, who runs Raksha orthopaedic hospital at Judges Bungalows, says he knows nothing about the case. “I am not involved in this scandal. I have no records of cases registered in 2008,” he said.
Passing the buck
Dr Sanandiya also added that the Crime Branch had recorded his statement recently. They also recorded the ‘expert’ statement of Dr J V Modi, he claimed. However, Dr Modi denied this.
The reporters then called medical superintendent M M Prabhakar. He said, “The case is over a year old. I do not remember if such a committee was set up. Ask the resident medical officer for details.”
This statement comes as a surprise as RMO S B Shrimali revealed, “Dr Prabhakar was the chairman of the committee inquiring into allegations against Dr Sanandiya. I do not have any documents. Dr Prabhakar will know more.”
I don’t remember anything
The reporters also got in touch with Dr Bhadresh Shah. Refusing he had been offered money to issue the certificate, he said, “Komal had fractured the scaphoid bone. In such cases, the patient feels pain but the injury becomes evident only 10-15 days later.”
Asked why the Patels, who live in Vastrapur, came all the way to the hospital at Ankur Char Rasta, the doctor said, “I have no idea. Today, I do not even remember what I had written in the certificate.”
