Two men were arrested by city police for allegedly posing as a doctor at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and stealing gold jewellery and a mobile phone from a woman who was attending to her ailing mother-in-law.
Woman Targeted While Caring for Sick Relative
The victim, 30-year-old Kanchana from Kolathur, had admitted her mother-in-law to the hospital on June 4, 2025, after doctors diagnosed her with a tumour in the head.
On June 6, a man approached Kanchana claiming to be a doctor and told her that he would supervise the treatment and surgery of her mother-in-law. After briefly reviewing the medical records, he asked her to purchase certain medicines and undergo a scan, taking her to the seventh floor of the hospital building.
Accused Asked Victim to Hand Over Valuables
Before the scan, the man allegedly instructed Kanchana to place her valuables in a bag, assuring her that he would keep them safely in his cabin. Trusting him, she handed over a three-sovereign gold thali chain, a two-gram gold ring and her mobile phone.
However, the man never returned. Realising she had been cheated, Kanchana immediately filed a complaint with the hospital police station’s crime wing.
CCTV Footage Helped Police Track Accused
Following the complaint, police examined CCTV footage from the hospital premises and managed to identify the suspects. Both men were arrested on Thursday.
During interrogation, investigators found that the accused had earlier surveyed the hospital to identify potential targets. After stealing the jewellery, they reportedly sold it, bought gold coins and even purchased an old car before travelling to several places.
Police recovered two gold coins weighing 12 grams and seized the car used by the accused.
One Accused Has Criminal History
According to reports, one of the accused, Rajesh Prithvi, has a criminal background and is already involved in two attempted murder cases. Both accused were produced before a court on Thursday and remanded to judicial custody.
Similar Incidents Reported Earlier
Incidents involving imposters posing as doctors have been reported earlier as well. In a previous case at Yashoda Hospital, a woman allegedly posed as a doctor and robbed a patient of gold ornaments after administering an injection.
Police have advised attendants and patients in hospitals to verify the identity of medical staff before trusting anyone with valuables or personal belongings.
