Fake doctor booked after botched cataract surgery

Pilibhit: A recent quackery case has resulted in a man being booked for allegedly posing as a doctor and practising medicine with a fake MBBS degree at a private hospital in Bilsanda town of Pilibhit district.

The accused, identified as Arvind Kumar, a resident of Rajhaua village in Shahjahanpur district, came under the police scanner after a botched cataract surgery on a 61-year-old farmer named Krishna, which reportedly resulted in damage to his eye.

Following the incident, Dr Chhatra Pal, the medical officer in charge of Bilsanda Community Health Centre, filed a complaint against the fake doctor, leading to the registration of a case on September 24.

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His fraudulent qualifications came to light after the Shahjahanpur Sadar circle officer wrote to Pilibhit chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Alok Kumar seeking verification of his degree, and also informed him of a similar case involving the same person earlier this year.

Upon receiving the letter, the CMO asked the Uttar Pradesh Medical Council to verify his credentials, and the council found that the accused was not registered. Subsequently, the CMO verified that the accused's medical credentials were fake.

Speaking to TOI, the CMO said, "A verification letter was sent to the registrar of the Uttar Pradesh Medical Council on Sept 8. In response, the council reported that no registration for Arvind Kumar dated July 24, 2023, existed in their records."

Based on the verification, the police registered a case under BNS sections 318(4) (cheating and dishonesty), 336(3) (forgery), and Section 15 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956.

When officials went to seal the hospital premises, the accused allegedly locked the main gate and fled. In response, the officials pasted a notice outside, declaring that the doctor’s degree was fake and the hospital was operating illegally.

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