Fraudulent Disability Certificate Allegations Escalate to PMO, President; Centre Orders Probe in Maharashtra Medical Administration

Date: 23 January 2026

A serious case alleging fraudulent use of disability reservation in medical education and administration has reached the highest constitutional offices of India, including the Prime Minister’s Office, President of India, Governor of Maharashtra, and Chief Minister’s Office, triggering formal action by the Union Government.

Senior journalist and RTI activist Dr. Shahid Raza Burney has circulated a detailed complaint demanding criminal prosecution, cancellation of appointments, and revocation of benefits allegedly secured through a false disability certificate. The complaint names Dr. Ajay Chandanwale, currently holding senior academic and administrative positions, including Acting Vice-Chancellor of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences.

 

Centre Confirms Receipt, Orders Investigation

 

In a significant development, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, has formally acknowledged receipt of the grievance filed by Dr. Divyansh Dwivedi and classified the matter as alleged disability reservation fraud in medical education/administration in Maharashtra.

According to the official communication, the complainant has produced documentation alleging that Dr. Ajay Chandanwale claimed 52% disability under the PwD quota, which was later reassessed by a medical expert committee on 21.10.2021, concluding that the actual disability was approximately 18%, below the statutory threshold required for reservation benefits under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

Citing the gravity of the allegations and potential statutory violations, the Ministry has forwarded the case to the Social Welfare Department, Government of Maharashtra, directing a thorough investigation and calling for an Action Taken Report (ATR) to be furnished to the complainant and the Union Government .

 

Demand for Criminal Action and Appointment Revocation

 

In his communication addressed to constitutional authorities and senior bureaucrats, Dr. Shahid Raza Burney has asserted that the issue goes beyond an individual case and reflects systemic abuse of disability reservations, undermining both public trust and the rights of genuinely disabled candidates.

 

The complaint explicitly calls for:

Registration of criminal offences relating to fraud and misrepresentation
Cancellation of benefits and appointments allegedly obtained under the PwD quota
Revocation of MUHS appointment and related positions, if found illegal
Institutional accountability of authorities that allegedly ignored or suppressed earlier findings

 

Burney states that “nothing less than criminal investigation and revocation of appointment would constitute justice”, arguing that continued inaction would amount to institutional shielding of fraud.

 

Wider Implications for Medical Governance

 

The case has reopened uncomfortable questions about credential verification, regulatory oversight, and enforcement of disability norms in India’s medical education system. Legal experts note that fraudulent disability claims, if proven, may attract consequences under criminal law, service rules, and the PwD Act, apart from invalidating appointments made on that basis.

With the Union Ministry now formally seized of the matter and the Maharashtra Government required to report action, attention is turning to whether the investigation will move beyond paper compliance to real accountability.

 

For the disability rights community, the case is being closely watched as a test of whether the State will protect legitimate PwD beneficiaries or allow influential officials to dilute reservation safeguards through alleged misuse.