Fake homeopathic doctor convicted after 16 years, sentenced to 3-year jail term
Surat: A quack who was caught practising as a homoeopathic doctor sixteen years ago using a fake degree has now been convicted of fraud by a lower court in Surat and sentenced to three years of imprisonment, officials said.
The accused, a 38-year-old resident of the Dindoli area in Surat and originally hailing from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh, was reportedly found to have been practising as a homoeopathic doctor for approximately sixteen years using a forged degree.
While passing the verdict, the court observed, “As per the provisions of the Indian Evidence Act, the burden of proving the case against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt is on the prosecution and in this case the allegations made by the prosecution have been proved beyond a reasonable doubt…”
The court further observed, “The incidents of quacks practising in society are increasing day by day, and the state government also frequently seeks to stop such people and takes action against them, but due to a lack of evidence, most of them escape the provisions of the law and penalties. Since the evidence received shows that the accused has registered himself as a medical practitioner without any qualification and the fact has been proven, it does not seem appropriate to give him the benefit of probation, considering his actions.”
Meanwhile, speaking to the Indian Express, assistant public prosecutor A T Parmar said, “We are satisfied with the order passed by the court.”
In the court of the 13th Additional Senior Civil Judge, Jitendra Singh, Additional Public Prosecutors P.D. Damor and A.T. Parmar levelled charges against the accused, who was defended by G.M. Lakhera.
The accused was arrested on May 11, 2009, after the certificates recovered from his possession were subsequently found to be fake.
During the investigation, the Limbayat police discovered that his Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) certificate, mark sheets, and other documents- allegedly obtained from BR Ambedkar University in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, were fake.
Following this, the accused was booked under Sections 465 (forgery), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), and 471 (using a forged document or electronic record as genuine) of the IPC, and was sent to the city's sub-jail.
However, after the chargesheet in this case was filed in the Surat District Court on September 25, 2009, he was released on bail.
