Court denies Bail to Doctor who advised treatment guidance to Wife via WhatsApp

Pointing out that the documents claim that the doctor's wife had obtained a fake degree, the Mumbai Court denied granting bail to the 37-year-old doctor and was quoted observing by Indian Express, "The WhatsApp chats between the accused and the applicant (doctor) reveal that the applicant used to tell the accused as to what treatment is to be given. It appears that every detail was asked by the accused and replied to by the applicant. Even in respect of sensitive patients like a pregnant woman of seven months, the accused acted as a doctor and the applicant sent her WhatsApp chats as to the treatment to be given."

Police were opposing the pre-arrest bail plea of the doctor who allegedly allowed his wife, an accused who doesn't have any medical degree, for practicing medicine in his clinic and even suggested ways of treatment method via WhatsApp chats.

Also Read: Nashik doctor arrested, another 41 booked for submitting fake degree certificates to Medical Council

As per the latest media report by Indian Express, the issue came to light after the police in a raid at a Ghatkopar-based clinic found three people to practice as doctors without any valid medical certificate.

Consequently, Police had registered FIR against the three accused under various sections, including cheating, forgery of the Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act.

The concerned pre-arrest bail plea has been made by the husband of one of the accused. The allegations against the 37-year-old doctor is that he had allowed his wife to practice at his clinic even though his wife didn't have any medical degree.

Opposing the bail plea, police relied on the WhatsApp chats between the couple and claimed that the doctor had assisted his wife to treat patients even though he was aware of the fact that she didn't have any medical certificate for practicing.

On the other hand, in the bail plea, the doctor stated that he was a registered medical practitioner, and giving advice for treatment was not a crime.

However, taking note of the fact that the wife of the doctor had obtained a fake medical degree, the court noted, "Still the applicant allowed her to practice in his clinic. Worth to note that the accused is the wife of the applicant. It is not acceptable that the applicant may not have knowledge that the accused does not hold a valid degree certificate or license to practice." Thus, the bench denied granting anticipatory bail to the doctor on the basis of WhatsApp chats.