Fake Practitioner Busted for Running Illegal Clinic, Treating Patients Without License
Berhampur: In a disturbing case of medical malpractice, a 40-year-old man has been arrested in Odisha’s Ganjam district for impersonating a doctor and running an unauthorized clinic without any formal medical education or license.
The accused, originally from Bishnupur village in West Bengal’s 24 Parganas district, had set up an illegal practice at Gandhi Chowk in Sana Aryapalli village. Despite having dropped out of school after Class VIII, he had been treating patients and dispensing medicines for years, police said.
Clinic Raided Following Tip-Off
Acting on a tip-off, a police team led by Aryapalli Marine IIC Bidya Bharati Nayak raided the clinic. During the operation, the accused was caught red-handed examining a patient with a stethoscope. When asked to present his medical credentials, he failed to produce any valid documentation.
Upon questioning, the man reportedly confessed to having worked under a Bengali doctor in Madhya Pradesh, where he gained informal experience before setting up his own clinic in Aryapalli in 2021. He had been charging unsuspecting patients substantial fees for consultations and treatments.
Fake Certificates, Equipment Seized
Authorities seized forged medical certificates, various medical instruments, and medicines valued at over ₹1 lakh during the raid. A case has been registered against the accused, who was later presented before a local court.
Police Probe Into Documents and Wider Network
Investigating officer Nayak confirmed that an inquiry is underway to determine how long the impersonator had been operating. Police are also verifying the authenticity of his Aadhaar and voter identification cards, reportedly acquired during his stay in Aryapalli.
“All clinics operating under the Marine police station jurisdiction will be scrutinized to root out similar cases,” the officer added.
Growing Trend of Medical Impersonation
This is not an isolated incident. In a similar case reported earlier, a 62-year-old woman with only a Class 12 qualification was arrested for impersonating a doctor and running an illegal clinic in Tamil Nadu’s Palakkad district.
The recurring issue of quack doctors operating without oversight raises serious public health concerns and calls for stricter regulation and periodic verification of medical practitioners across the country.
