Maharashtra Medical Council Takes Action Against 7 FMGs for Illegal Registration Practices

Maharashtra Medical Council Issues Notices to Seven Foreign Medical Graduates Over Alleged Screening Test Fraud

Summary of the action taken

The Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) has issued notices to seven foreign medical graduates after allegations that they secured Council registration without passing the mandatory Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE). The notices seek explanations and indicate that an internal inquiry has been initiated to examine the circumstances under which provisional or permanent registration was granted to these individuals despite claims they had not cleared the screening test.

How the issue first came to light

This lapse was brought into focus following a criminal investigation registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2022. The CBI probe, which is reportedly ongoing across multiple states, has raised the possibility of a broader network facilitating registration for medical graduates who had not satisfied the statutory screening requirements. The CBI’s inquiry has alleged that as many as 73 foreign medical graduates, across 14 State Medical Councils including the MMC, may have obtained registration without successfully clearing the FMGE conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE).

Regulatory context: FMGE and Screening Test Regulations, 2022

Why the FMGE matters

Under the Screening Test Regulations, 2022, candidates who obtain medical qualifications abroad must clear the FMGE before they are eligible for provisional or permanent registration in India. The regulation is a statutory safeguard intended to verify that foreign-qualified practitioners meet the minimum standards required to practise in the country. The CBI’s allegations that registrations were granted without such verification challenge the integrity of that safeguard and the processes used by State Medical Councils to vet foreign medical graduates.

Allegations, public concern, and those named in the FIR

Scope of the allegations

According to the CBI-led investigation, a significant number of foreign medical graduates—73 across 14 state councils—are alleged to have been registered without clearing the FMGE. Separately, in the case involving the seven MMC-registered doctors, the allegations contend that these individuals were permitted to practise despite failing the FMGE. The criminal case filed by the CBI has named multiple accused individuals and also includes several unnamed public servants from various state medical councils and private individuals.

Criminal provisions invoked

The First Information Report (FIR) filed in relation to these matters charges the accused under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code, specifically Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc.), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document). The FIR also invokes provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, signaling allegations related to abuse of official position and corrupt practices. These sections indicate that the authorities view the matter as involving possible conspiracy, fraudulent documentation, and misuse of official authority.

Regulatory oversight concerns and public impact

Continuing presence on the MMC portal and related concerns

Advocate Tushar Bhosale raised concerns after discovering that the names of several foreign medical graduates who had been named in the FIR remained visible on the MMC’s official website. He reported instances where those individuals had renewed registrations, obtained CPS postgraduate diplomas, appeared on MMC electoral rolls, and practised in Maharashtra, including roles as ESIC insurance medical practitioners. Advocate Bhosale warned that the presence of such names on the Council’s portal could mislead patients and demanded clarification on whether false FMGE results were submitted and whether registrations were granted without adequate verification.

Calls for accountability

Following these revelations, Advocate Bhosale formally wrote to the MMC seeking action not only against the doctors allegedly involved but also against any council officials found culpable in permitting registrations without proper verification. His communications with the MMC stressed that regulatory lapses in vetting foreign medical graduates risk undermining patient trust and public safety.

MMC response and next procedural steps

Notices and internal inquiry

On December 2, 2025, MMC issued notices to the seven registered medical practitioners implicated in the matter, requesting written explanations for how their registrations were obtained. The Council also indicated it would pursue an internal inquiry into the matter. Earlier assurances of corrective action were made by the MMC administration in response to the initial complaints, and the recent issuance of notices represents a concrete step toward examining the procedural and administrative aspects that allowed these registrations to occur.

What to expect going forward

With both the CBI criminal probe and the MMC’s internal inquiry active, the matter will proceed on parallel tracks: a law-enforcement investigation addressing alleged criminality and a regulatory review focused on administrative compliance and possible remedial measures. The outcome of these processes will determine whether registrations are revoked, further disciplinary action is taken against any practitioners found to have used wrongful means, and whether any council officials face sanctions for procedural lapses.

Why this matters for patients and the medical profession

Preserving trust through verification

The FMGE and the Screening Test Regulations, 2022 serve as legal and professional checks to ensure that foreign-trained doctors meet national standards prior to practising. The allegations and subsequent inquiries highlight the importance of robust verification systems at State Medical Councils to maintain public trust. For patients, transparent and reliable registration records are essential to making informed decisions about healthcare providers.

Ongoing monitoring and transparency

As the MMC proceeds with notices and an internal inquiry, and as the CBI continues its investigation, stakeholders in the healthcare system—including regulators, medical professionals and the public—will be watching for both enforcement outcomes and reforms intended to prevent similar lapses. medichelpline will continue to report developments as official findings and decisions are released.