FIR against 18 Quacks in Maharashtra's Ulhasnagar

Thane: To combat the growing menace of quackery, the health department of Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) in Maharashtra's Thane district registered First Information Reports (FIRs) against 18 fake doctors in recent months. These individuals were among 26 suspicious doctors identified for practicing medicine without valid degrees and running unauthorized clinics in the city. 

During the verification process, the investigating officials found that 18 of them were practicing with fraudulent documents and had no medical knowledge or credibility to treat patients who visited their illegal clinics. 

Providing details about it, Ulhasnagar civic body's health officer Dr Mohini Dharma told PTI that a list of 26 suspicious doctors was received from the district authorities, following which a verification drive was conducted.

Also read- SHRC Directs Medical Council Registrar to Take Action Against Quack

Out of the 26 doctors, an FIR was filed against 18. Among the remaining eight, three were registered with the Maharashtra Medical Council, four clinics were shut down during our visit, and one doctor was found to be under the jurisdiction of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC).

The Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) took action against them based on a tip-off provided by the district authorities. During the operation, documents and certificates of these medical practitioners were scrutinised as they were found to be fake. 

Following this, the authorities registered cases against 18 bogus doctors at different police stations under relevant sections of the BNS. 

As per a Free Press Journal news report, UMC officially appealed to citizens not to visit these unregistered doctors or take medicines from them. Authorities have urged the public to report any suspicious medical practices to the corporation.

Dr. Mohini Dharma, a health officer at UMC, told the Daily, "After reviewing a report, we discovered that several doctors were practicing medicine without proper authorization. Out of the 26 doctors, we filed an FIR against 18. Among the remaining eight, three were registered with the Maharashtra Medical Council, four clinics were shut down during our visit, and one doctor was found to be under the jurisdiction of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC)."

In the year 2024, a total of eight fake doctors were detected in Ulhasnagar, while five others were found in the last two months (in February-March 2025), officials told PTI.  Another five bogus doctors were found in Ulhasnagar between 2017 and 2024, they said. 

Based on complaints lodged against them, First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered, and the police launched an investigation into the matter, they added.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that the Telangana State Medical Council (TSMC) took legal action against 12 individuals for illegally practicing medicine. Of these, eight practised in Hyderabad and its surrounding areas, while the remaining four were located in various districts.

Also read- Telangana's Crackdown on Quacks: 12 FIRs Registered