Mumbai: A startling case of medical fraud has surfaced at V N Desai Hospital in Santacruz, where a senior contractual doctor was found to have been illegally practicing in the ICU for nearly two years without valid medical registration.
The individual, Sawant Bharat Chandrakant, falsely claimed to be a qualified MD and worked as a registrar in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) since late 2022. He was appointed through Sai Sanjeevani Agency, a manpower contractor hired by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). However, a hospital inquiry revealed that he was not registered with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) and had used forged documents to secure the job.
Red Flags and Investigation
The fraud came to light in February 2025 when a hospital employee noticed irregularities in Dr. Sawant’s documentation. Instead of submitting a legitimate MMC registration, he provided a letter falsely claiming he was permitted to practise medicine. This prompted the hospital to verify his credentials with the MMC.
By April 2025, the MMC confirmed that:
- Sawant had no registration with the council.
- The submitted letter was a forged document.
Administrative Action
Upon confirmation:
- Dr. Sawant was dismissed from duty.
- A fine was imposed on him.
- However, no criminal or legal action has yet been initiated.
In addition, on Tuesday, the hospital issued two show-cause notices to Sai Sanjeevani Agency for failing to verify his qualifications before deployment.
A hospital staffer, speaking anonymously, told Free Press Journal, “Dr Sawant was supervising the ICU and managed several critical patients while claiming to be an MD.”
Hospital officials emphasized that no authorization was ever given for such a fake appointment, and strict measures have been initiated against the contractor. A statement from the administration said, “All financial dues of Sai Sanjeevani have been suspended since November 2024.”
Public Outrage and Accountability
The incident has drawn sharp criticism. A health activist stated, “A registrar’s role is highly sensitive and demands verified credentials. It’s disturbing that such a lapse occurred under BMC’s watch. It highlights a serious flaw in the verification process.”
The case has reignited concerns about the prevalence of unregistered doctors and loopholes in hiring practices across public healthcare facilities, especially those relying on third-party manpower contractors.
With no FIR or police action reported yet, many are calling for a thorough investigation and legal proceedings against both the fake doctor and the contracting agency involved.
