Dozens of aspirant doctors arrested for cheating in MDCAT
VIP passes were issued to the candidates, say DI Khan police. Hefty amount was received from students for cheating: sources. Say the papers of "these candidates will be cancelled". Dozens of students were arrested for reportedly cheating via Bluetooth devices during the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) held on Sunday at different national and foreign venues. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) conducted the MDCAT exam 2023 in different cities for 1,050 seats in medical and 350 in dental colleges. At least 10 aspirant doctors were arrested in Dera Ismail Khan (DI Khan) and 43 candidates were taken into custody in Peshawar on the charges of cheating during the test for medical and dental colleges. Surprisingly, all of the detainees were using Bluetooth for alleged cheating in tests. DI Khan police sources claimed that VIP passes were issued to the candidates. A hefty amount was received from each of the students for getting their papers solved, they added. The police received reports that the MDCAT paper will be leaked via Bluetooth devices, the sources further said. Meanwhile, 43 candidates — including 20 female students — were apprehended for cheating in the MDCAT in Peshawar. Police authorities said that Bluetooth devices were recovered from the candidates during the test.
Numerous students were arrested for allegedly cheating using Bluetooth devices during the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) held at various locations on Sunday. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) organized the MDCAT exam in multiple cities, offering 1,050 seats in medical colleges and 350 in dental colleges.
In Dera Ismail Khan (DI Khan), 10 aspiring doctors were apprehended, while 43 candidates were taken into custody in Peshawar, all on suspicion of cheating during the medical and dental college entrance exam. What's particularly surprising is that all the detained students were found to be using Bluetooth devices for alleged cheating. DI Khan police sources even claimed that VIP passes were issued to these candidates, and significant sums of money were collected from each of them in exchange for having their papers solved.
Police had received reports that the MDCAT paper might be leaked using Bluetooth devices. Similarly, in Peshawar, 43 candidates, including 20 female students, were caught cheating in the MDCAT. Bluetooth devices were discovered in their possession during the examination. FIRs were filed against them, but they were later released on personal surety, with a court appearance scheduled for September 11.
The Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) took notice of the situation and directed the cancellation of the papers of those candidates found involved in Bluetooth cheating. He also ordered an investigation into the government official involved in these illegal activities during the exam and requested the IT Board and the higher education department to enhance their test strategy.
The MDCAT-2023 was a paper-based exam held on a single day in 31 cities across Pakistan, including international venues in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. A total of 180,534 students from Pakistan appeared for the MDCAT exam. PMDC President Professor Dr. Rizwan Taj emphasized that students' bright futures are a top priority, and the PM&DC is dedicated to facilitating them. The exam results will be issued approximately one week after the test.
