Patients trusted him for years. Police say Gujarat ‘doctor’ was Class 10 pass

For nearly 15 years, patients in a Vadodara neighbourhood were led to believe they were consulting a qualified doctor at Promila Clinic, situated in a wealthy part of the city. However, the police have now revealed that the individual behind the practice was merely a high school graduate. Biswajit Prafulla Haldar, the suspected fraudster, was apprehended by the Vadodara City Police's Local Crime Branch, Zone-2, on Wednesday.

The raid took place in the presence of a medical officer, who discovered that Haldar had been operating the clinic without a valid medical degree or registration.

Upon searching the premises, law enforcement officials seized a significant quantity of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, including 38 bottles of cough syrup, 162 injections, and various medicine strips and capsules. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 2, Manjita Vanzara disclosed that Haldar had been utilizing a falsified Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery degree to perform invasive procedures without anesthesia, charging patients up to Rs 25,000 for the operations.

Vanzara explained that Haldar had once worked as a helper in a doctor's clinic in West Bengal before relocating to Vadodara around 15 years ago, where he assumed the guise of a practicing physician.

The 45-year-old had maintained an impressive patient base, primarily consisting of individuals from the lower-middle class. According to Vanzara, Haldar may have acquired some knowledge about common medications during his time as a helper in the West Bengal clinic. Nevertheless, no one appears to have scrutinized his credentials throughout the years, allowing him to continue his fraudulent activities unabated.

The police are currently investigating the full extent of Haldar's alleged practice, including the number of patients he treated, the medications and injections he administered, and the financial gains he allegedly accrued. They are also exploring the appropriate legal action to be taken against the proceeds of the crime.