While rejecting the plea of Dr Rakesh Tandon, head of the department of gastroenterology, Metropolitan magistrate (MM) Raj Rani Mitra fixed March 24 for hearing pre-charge evidence in the case.

In 1996, gastroenterologist Anoop Saraya filed a case against Tandon and former AIIMS director S.K. Kacker for having ``...forged official records to cause unlawful loss to the complainant...manipulated records in a manner whereby the complainant who was duly selected by the selection committee for appointment to the post of Assistant Professor, Gastroenterology, and placed no. 1 on the waiting list was deprived of the appointment''.

Saraya had appeared for the interview on July 20, 1993. There were two posts for Assistant Professor, for which the selection committee had recommended the names of Dr S. Desarthy and Dr Gagan Sood. Saraya's was the first name on the waiting list. In his complaint Saraya alleged that Tandon knew that Sood had left for the USA, hence there was no possibility of his joining the department. Saraya alleged that Kacker ``... forged the original record and interpolated the name of Dr Deepak Lahoti''.

A prima-facie case was made against the two under Sections 465 (forgery), 418 (cheating with knowledge that wrongful loss may ensue to person whose interest offender is bound to protect), 471 (using as genuine a forged document), read with Sections 34 (common intention) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.