2 Quacks booked for illegal practice

Thane: In a recent crackdown on unlicensed medical practitioners, the Vithalwadi police have registered an FIR against two individuals accused of posing as doctors in Manere village, Kalyan, without holding valid licenses. The action comes as part of a special drive initiated by the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) to root out illegal medical practice in the area.

According to health officials, a tip-off led the KDMC’s health department to launch an inspection. Acting on this information, a team was sent to Shri Sai Clinic in Manere village, where it was discovered that both individuals were practising medicine without valid licenses from any recognised medical authority.

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The investigation further revealed that one accused had no license at all, while the other one held a degree in electro-homoeopathy—a form of alternative medicine not recognized by the Medical Council of India (now the National Medical Commission). As such, both individuals were found to be practising medicine unlawfully.

Following the discovery, the accused have been booked under Sections 33 and 36 of the Maharashtra Medical Professional Act and relevant sections 318 and 319 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

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Speaking to Free Press Journal, Deepa Shukla, a health officer from KDMC, said, "We received information about two bogus doctors on February 7, 2024. Afterwards, our team visited and checked their licenses. Following scrutiny of the licenses and other documents, we sent them to the medical council to confirm their registration with the council. We filed an FIR on May 19 after the report from the medical council came in."

Police sources from Vithalwadi Police Station said, "Based on the complaint, we filed an FIR against them. We summoned them to appear at the police station to record their statements. So far, no one has been arrested. Further investigation is ongoing into the matter," reports Free Press Journal.