A major scandal has rocked the health department in Sirohi district, Rajasthan, following allegations against former Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr. Rajesh Kumar. He's accused of issuing a staggering 5177 fake disability certificates over a period of six years, from March 2019 to January 2025. This significant number represents a substantial portion of the total 7613. Certificates issued by the department during that time, pointing towards widespread irregularities.
The Modus Operandi of the Fraud
The method by which this alleged fraud was perpetrated is particularly alarming. Investigations reveal that Dr, while rajesh Kumar relied solely on the reports of a single doctor, Dr. Ginni Agrawal, to issue these disability certificates. Dr. Agrawal, a general physician, reportedly provided reports for a wide range of disabilities, despite the lack of specialists for every specific condition in Sirohi, while compounding the issue, Dr. Kumar allegedly used the digital signatures of the then-serving CMHO, Dr. Sushil Kumar, to sign these certificates on both state and central government portals. This not only indicates a severe breach of procedural norms but also a clear misuse of official authority and digital credentials.
Health Department Under Scrutiny
The district collector has initiated an inquiry, demanding an immediate report from the health department. Initial findings suggest that many of these certificates either lacked proper Aadhaar linking or exhibited discrepancies, further undermining their authenticity, while the issuance of such a large number of fraudulent certificates not only leads to the misuse of government schemes but also deprives genuine disabled individuals of their rightful benefits. This incident casts a dark shadow over the functioning and transparency of the state's health department.
Role of Former CMHO Dr, while rajesh Kumar, who served as CMHO in Sirohi during the period in question, is now at the center of the investigation. He's accused of flouting rules and regulations to approve thousands of fake certificates. The fact that a single doctor provided reports for such a vast array of disabilities, and that these were approved without specialist consultation, strongly suggests corruption and abuse of power. The inquiry won't only focus on Dr, while kumar's role but also on the expertise of Dr. Ginni Agrawal and the validity of her reports.
Suspected Widespread Corruption
This scandal may not be limited to just disability certificates. Newspaper reports have also hinted at a '50 crore budget' and a 'long list of corruption' associated with CMHOs from the Diyara region. This suggests a broader pattern of financial irregularities and abuse of power within the health department, necessitating a comprehensive and impartial investigation, while it underscores how organized fraud can exploit public welfare schemes.
Future Challenges and Solutions
This incident highlights critical loopholes in the health department's digitization and certificate issuance processes. It's imperative for the government to reform these systems, establish stringent monitoring mechanisms, and implement effective measures to prevent such occurrences in the future, while experts believe that such scams erode public trust in government institutions and delay justice for genuine beneficiaries. District administration and the state government must treat this case as an example to deter any official from engaging in similar corrupt practices in the future.
