In a comedic twist in Faridkot, Punjab, on January 7, Paramjit Kaur arrived at the examination hall dressed in a salwar suit, adorned with lipstick and a bindi. However, instead of Paramjit Kaur, her partner, Angrez Singh, took her place for the multipurpose health workers exam conducted by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences at DAV Public School in Kotkapura. The incident unfolded with Angrez Singh impersonating Paramjit Kaur, creating a rather amusing scenario.
Upon noticing discrepancies, the administrators at Kotkapura’s university promptly reported the situation to the police. In an attempt to validate his false identity as Paramjit Kaur, Angrez Singh went to great lengths, presenting fraudulent voter and Aadhar cards during the health workers exam. The use of fake identification cards added a layer of deception to the already unconventional situation.
The police, upon investigation, revealed that the impersonation attempt was unsuccessful when Angrez Singh’s fingerprints failed to match those of the genuine candidate on the biometric device. The authorities took swift action, arresting Angrez Singh for his impersonation, and the actual candidacy of Paramjit Kaur was declared null and void. This incident sheds light on the lengths individuals may go to manipulate the examination process, emphasizing the importance of robust identity verification measures.
The saga of fraudulent exam practices continues to unfold, highlighting the persistent issue of individuals resorting to deceit in examination settings. In the recent case at Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, the truth unraveled as Angrez Singh’s fingerprints failed to align with those of the genuine candidate, Paramjit Kaur, on the biometric device. Vice-Chancellor Dr. Rajeev Sud confirmed the deception, stating, “Angrez Singh was impersonating a female candidate identified as Paramjit Kaur, a resident of Fazilka. He has been arrested, and the candidature of the real candidate also invalidated.”
This incident is not an isolated occurrence, as a pattern of fraudulent activities in examinations emerges. In Jaipur, October 2023, three individuals, including two women, were apprehended for impersonating male candidates during the Plus Three first-semester examination of Shastri at a Sanskrit college. The deceitful act involved the women taking the exam on behalf of registered male candidates at Ratnakar Sanskrit College in Saudia.
Similarly, in Navi Mumbai, May 2022, a 22-year-old man was caught in the act of paying 1.5 lakh to a dummy candidate for writing the paramilitary forces recruitment test. The deception came to light during the accused’s physical test when his biometrics failed to match those of the legitimate candidate. These incidents underscore the need for vigilant examination procedures and heightened security measures to curb the prevalence of fake candidates jeopardizing the integrity of the examination system.
