In 1980, 17-yr-old Utpal Patel from Ahmedabad forged his marksheet to get admission into an MBBS course and eventually began his medical practice.

43 years later, on Jan 30, he was tried and convicted in the marksheet forgery case at the city’s metropolitan court at the age of 60.

During the trial heard before the additional chief metropolitan magistrate, Pawan Kumar Navin, the convict’s dubious past was revealed during the hearing.

Forged foundation for a fiction-like career

Patel, studying at the city’s CN Vidyalaya scored 48.48% in his 12th science stream exams.

This score wouldn’t have met the minimum requirements to opt for an MBBS course. So, he created a bogus marksheet with the official Gujarat Secondary Education Board (GSEB) stamp. He presented his scores as 68% in that fake medical marksheet.

With this bogus mark sheet, he illegally obtained admission into BJ Medical College on July 28, 1980, for an MBBS course.

Upon noticing this illicit practice, an inquiry was conducted and notice was issued; eventually, a complaint was registered against Patel at Shahibaug police station on July 7, 1991, under sections 420, 468, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

PV Prajapati, the state government’s additional public prosecutor, strongly argued for strict actions against Patel over his deeds to set an example among aspiring medical students.

Following this, magistrate Pawan Kumar Navin sentenced Patel to three years in jail, along with a fine of ₹10,000.

The magistrate judge mentioned that such acts committed by medical practitioners are anti-social and should be penalised appropriately.

These deeds encourage others to repeat them as well.

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