Daijiworld Media Network - Chitradurga (SP)

Chitradurga, Sep 12: Vikas, who served as the doctor at Sirigere government primary health centre in this district for two and half years, had conducted 36 post-mortems relating to unnatural deaths. This information has made the medical fraternity and government officials to sit up and take notice. Surprisingly, he was able to get government jobs twice on the basis of fake certificates.

During his questioning, Vikas reportedly told the inquiry officials that he has more knowledge than normal doctors and based on that he had conducted these post-mortems. He asserted that he had served the government as well as the people, and that he had done nothing wrong.

Vikas holds BSc (nursing) degree. He bagged job as government medical officer by affixing his photos to the photocopies of medical records standing in the name of Dr Vikas Patil. During the interrogation, he is said to have confessed that he learnt the art of copying through internet.

To prove that his original certificates had gone missing, Vikas initially complained to the police about his educational records having gone missing, and got an affidavit done. During the interview, he submitted fake records along with this affidavit, and joined duty as medical officer on contract. Thereafter, neither the authority which appointed him nor the department officials sought to verify his original documents, which could have been obtained by applying for the same afresh from the university if the originals had actually gone missing.

Vikas submitted fake documents and got appointed as medical officer. He served in Bannikoppa extension and community health centre at Lakshmeshwar in Gadag district till August 5. But after the father of Dr Vikas Patil filed complaint with the district health officer seeking action against him, Vikas went to Chitradurga.

At Chiradurga he again succeeded in cheating the officials. During the interview he said original certificates had gone missing, and promised to submit them later. After certain media came up with report about this fake medical officer, the district health officer filed police complaint, it is gathered. There is the serious question of legal validity of post-mortem reports based on examinations conducted by him during trial in courts.