Three MBBS students of Azeezia Medical College, Meeyannoor, here were debarred by Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) on Tuesday on charges of impersonation while appearing for the examinations. KUHS has also ordered a detailed probe. In addition, the university has also suspended the chief examination superintendent, a native of Karnataka and three women invigilators which include his wife. It is the first case of impersonation reported in KUHS.

KUHS vice-chancellor Dr Mohanan Kunnummal called on the Chancellor and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan to brief him about the incident. Health Minister Veena George directed the KUHS vice-chancellor to conduct a proper inquiry and take stern action against those who are found guilty. The impersonation was reported in the Part I (additional) exams of third-year students which were held in January this year.

An inquiry panel of the university also reported that one of the students’ answer sheets had gone missing. Therefore the university called for a police probe and cancelled the exam centre at the college. The incident came to light after the university raised suspicion after the three students, who had earlier failed to clear the papers, secured 95 per cent marks in the examination. The students had failed to complete the course even after nine years. They got MBBS admission in 2012. 

The authorities found a mismatch in the handwriting after comparing it with their previous answer sheets.  Since the question paper was delivered online, it is suspected that the printout of the question paper and answer book were handed over to someone else, who wrote the exam. Later, the answer books were returned. The sheet where the registration number has to be recorded was also separated from the answer books. 

The authorities also found a mismatch in the barcodes on the registration number slip and the answer book. In the course of further investigation, the three students admitted that the handwriting on the answer books was not theirs.