17 December,2025 07:34 AM IST | Mumbai | Anish Patil
Sir JJ Hospital’s Old Boys Hostel. Pic/By Special Arrangement
A forged NEET mark sheet showing 570 marks allegedly allowed a 21-year-old youth, who had actually scored just 90 out of 750, to illegally stay at Sir JJ Hospital's Old Boys Hostel for nearly two months by posing as a first-year MBBS student, police said. The incident has exposed serious verification lapses at one of Mumbai's premier government medical institutions.
The accused, Faisal Amiruddin Sheikh, 21, was arrested by Sir JJ Marg police after hospital authorities discovered that he had no valid medical admission and had submitted forged academic documents to secure hostel accommodation. A court has remanded Sheikh to police custody till December 19.
Representation pic/istock
According to police sources, Sheikh had failed to secure a medical seat last year but had assured his parents that he would perform better in NEET this year. After scoring poorly again, police said he allegedly fabricated documents instead of admitting the failure at home. During questioning, Sheikh reportedly told investigators that he forged the mark sheet to maintain the claim that he had entered medical college.
The fraud came to light on December 12, during routine verification of hostel residents. When questioned, Sheikh claimed his admission had been "upgraded" to RML Medical College in Lucknow and that he would soon vacate the hostel. However, he failed to produce any proof, raising suspicion.
Senior faculty later confirmed that Sheikh had not been allotted any roll number and was not enrolled as an MBBS student. A detailed scrutiny of his hostel admission form and academic records revealed forged documents. When confronted, Sheikh allegedly admitted to fabricating the NEET mark sheet and misleading both his parents and the hospital administration.
Following this, hospital authorities handed him over to Sir JJ Marg police, who registered a case for cheating, forgery and related offences. Police said they are examining the digital trail of the forged mark sheet, including the use of mobile applications, and are probing whether Sheikh acted alone or had assistance. His mobile phone and laptop have been seized.
Sheikh is a resident of Uttar Pradesh. His father works in Dubai, his mother is a homemaker, and he has two younger brothers, one of whom studies in Pune. Officials said the case highlights the urgent need for stricter verification mechanisms at hostels attached to medical institutions. Further investigation is underway.
Police said Sheikh allegedly used the WPS mobile application to create a fake NEET mark sheet reflecting 570 marks. Using this forged document, he secured accommodation at Sir JJ Hospital's Old Boys Hostel, which is meant exclusively for first-year MBBS students. Investigators said he stayed in the hostel for nearly two months without attending lectures.
Dr Rewat Kaninde, 37, medical officer and warden of Ward D (Hostel No 95), who is the complainant in the case, said he asked Sheikh to produce proof of the claimed admission upgradation. When Sheikh said the documents were with his father, Dr Kaninde asked him to make a phone call.
During the first call, the person on the other end reportedly said he did not have a son, immediately raising suspicion. When confronted again, Sheikh made another call during which the father confirmed his son's identity as Faisal Sheikh but categorically denied any admission or upgradation to a medical college in Uttar Pradesh.
Suspicion deepened when Sheikh's roommate told authorities that Faisal had not stayed in the hostel for nearly a month after admission and, after returning, had not been attending college regularly. Sheikh had allegedly told fellow students that his admission had been upgraded and that he would soon leave the hostel.
