AIIMS Gorakhpur Controversy: Health Ministry forms committee to investigate OBC-NCL certificate irregularities

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a notification stating a list of panel committees to inquire into the allegation of fraud complaints of irregularity in issue of the non-creamy layer OBC certificate of Auroprakash Pal, son of Gopal Krushna Pal, executive director of AIIMS Patna.

The committee's chairperson will be Manashvi Kumar, joint secretary CGHS and hospital; Priyagarshika Srivastava, director INI as a member and Sachin Kumar, director vigilance and lisson officer OBC as the secretary member. Additionally, the committee will have to submit a report within a period of one week from the date of issue of this order, dated today, the official statement added.

Earlier a complaint was lodged with the Station House Officer (SHO) at the AIIMS Gorakhpur police station on, September 5, alleging that Pal submitted a fake other backward classes-non creamy layer (OBC-NCL) certificate for his son, Aurorakash Pal, to get admission in MD Postgraduate (PG) medical course in the Microbiology Department of AIIMS Gorakhpur in August 2024.

“I have filed an online complaint with the state government and local police station. A probe will be carried out based on my complaint which has also reached the union health ministry,” Gupta told Careers360.

Also read AIIMS Gorakhpur Controversy: Head of surgery accuses executive director of forging son’s OBC certificate

However, Pal who has been executive director at AIIMS Gorakhpur since January 3, 2024, further alleged that the denial of promotion to Gupta and his wife Dr Sangeeta Gupta, additional professor at AIIMS Gorakhpur, based on merit, eventually led to his complaint.

Pal, with an additional charge AIIMS Gorakhpur denied the allegations and said: “These are false allegations to tarnish my reputation. I stopped rampant corruption at AIIMS Gorakhpur after taking actions against corrupt officials and they all have turned against me. I have already submitted my statement to the union health ministry in this regard.”

“I have filed an online complaint with the state government and local police station. A probe will be carried out based on my complaint which has also reached the union health ministry,” Gupta told Careers360.