Andhra Pradesh: Fake doctor arrested for defrauding patients

Vijayawada: A quack allegedly robbing patients in the Outpatient (OPD) ward of multiple hospitals by pretending to be a doctor has been arrested by the Vijayawada police.

In a press conference held on Sunday, ACP (South) Dr B. Ravikiran informed that the accused studied up to intermediate and worked as a compounder at several private hospitals.

The accused has been identified as a 24-year-old native of Rellivalasa in Pusapatirega mandal in Vizianagaram district.

Ravikiran informed TOI, “The accused worked as a helper in a private hospital in Visakhapatnam for a few days. As he could not earn enough money for his vices, he went to Bengaluru and joined a private hospital and worked for 15 days. Later, he came to Vijayawada and stayed in a hotel.”

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The incident first took place on March 6 when the accused, posing as a doctor, entered the outpatient wing of Andhra Hospital. He talked to patients and their relatives. After placing a good impression on the patient’s mind, he asked for Rs 7,500 from the patient stating he had left his wallet in the operation theatre and left the hospital with the money.

Similarly, on April 5, he went to a ward in Vijaya Hospital, posing as a doctor. He checked the case sheet and collected 10,000 from a patient through online transfer.

Jayaram adopted the same modus operandi at a hospital in Guntur. He reached American Hospital in Vijayawada and started talking to a patient and sought 4,000 from him.

Following the same modulus operandi, the accused caught the attention of a staff nurse who suspected his move. The nurse questioned the accused about his doctor’s identity. When the accused failed to answer, the nurse called security. However, the accused managed to escape.

Later, the police started receiving complaints about a man cheating patients at several hospitals. Following this, a case was registered by the police against the accused.

A special team was deployed to nab the accused and he was remanded in police custody on Sunday. The police seized 4,500 cash and a cell phone from him. Further investigation is on.

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