16 fake doctors held in Surat for running clinics without medical degrees

Surat: The Surat city police’s Special Operations Group (SOG), in coordination with the district health department, arrested 16 alleged bogus doctors on Tuesday for reportedly running clinics in Pandesara without recognised medical qualifications. Many of the accused are from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.

The SOG conducted inspections across the city and identified several clinics in Pandesara where individuals were allegedly practising medicine without valid medical degrees. Decoy patients were sent to the clinics to verify the allegations, following which police teams carried out simultaneous raids.

The operation was led by DCP Rajdeep Nakum and police inspector Atul Sonara, along with chief district health officer Dr Anil B Patel.

According to police, the accused had been operating clinics for periods ranging from a few months to more than 30 years. Several had studied only up to Class 10 or Class 12, while others held degrees unrelated to medicine. Some had previously worked as compounders or assistants at hospitals and nursing homes before allegedly starting their own practices.

One of the accused had reportedly been running a clinic for 33 years, while another had operated clinics at different locations for around 30 years. Police said some of the accused examined several patients daily and earned substantial amounts through their alleged practices.