Mumbai Crime: Fake Doctor Busted in Bandra West, Illegal Clinic Exposed by Crime Branch

In a coordinated crackdown, officials from the Crime Branch and the civic health department exposed an illegal medical setup operating in Bandra West, where a man was allegedly posing as a qualified doctor. Acting on the findings, the Bandra Police registered a case against two individuals on charges of cheating and unlawfully practising medicine without the necessary credentials. Authorities stated that the clinic had been functioning for several years, misleading unsuspecting patients seeking treatment. The action highlights growing concerns over unauthorized medical practitioners operating in the city and the risks they pose to public health and safety.

The case was initiated following a complaint lodged by Dr. Priya Jitendra Jadhav, a 46-year-old Assistant Medical Officer with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, who has been in service since 2008. Currently assigned to the H/West ward, she was summoned to the Crime Branch Unit-9 office in Bandra West on April 20 at approximately 3:30 pm. Officials had received credible intelligence about a suspected fake doctor running a clinic named “Anuj Health Center” near Nandi Talkies in Nandi Galli, prompting immediate verification and further action by the concerned authorities.

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To confirm the allegations, the Crime Branch devised a sting operation using a decoy patient, identified as Abdul Arshad Abdul Samad Sheikh, aged 51 and residing in Govandi. He was provided with six pre-recorded ₹500 currency notes amounting to ₹3,000 as consultation fees, with serial numbers documented in advance before panch witnesses. The decoy visited the clinic, where the accused examined him and prescribed medicines in exchange for the marked cash. Once the transaction was verified, officials prepared to conduct a raid on the premises.

Shortly after, at around 4:09 pm, the Crime Branch team, accompanied by Dr. Jadhav and independent witnesses, raided the clinic. The main accused introduced himself as Asif Hussain Sarwar Sheikh, a 44-year-old resident of Mumbra in Thane, claiming to be a medical professional. His assistant, Anwar Ansar Hussain Sheikh, aged 46 and originally from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, was also present during the operation. Upon questioning, Asif admitted he lacked any recognized medical qualification, was not registered with any official medical council, and had no civic licence to run a clinic despite treating patients for years.

During the search, officers confiscated several counterfeit certificates displayed at the clinic, allegedly issued by an institute offering electro homeopathy and paramedical training. These documents were seized as evidence. A substantial quantity of medicines, capsules, powders, and empty packaging materials of various brands was also recovered, with allegations that the accused repackaged drugs into small packets for distribution. The marked cash used in the sting was found in his possession. Investigators revealed the premises were rented for ₹8,500 per month. A case has now been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Medical Council Act, and further investigation is ongoing.