In a major operation aimed at safeguarding public health, authorities in Mumbai have launched a massive crackdown against illegal medical practitioners operating without valid qualifications or statutory registrations. Units 6 and 8 of the Mumbai Police Crime Branch, in coordination with medical officers from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), conducted surprise inspections across multiple clinics in the city. The joint operation targeted individuals who were examining patients and prescribing allopathic medicines despite lacking necessary medical degrees and licenses. During the raid, law enforcement officials seized allopathic drugs and medical equipment valued at Rs 1,19,324 from clinics located in Deonar, Govandi, and Bandra East.
Surprise Inspections in Govandi, Deonar, and Bandra East
Police investigations revealed that the accused were running their establishments like standard medical clinics, taking advantage of unsuspecting patients. None of the five individuals were registered with the Maharashtra Medical Council, which is a mandatory legal requirement for practicing allopathic medicine in the state. Four of the raided clinics were situated in the densely populated Zakir Hussain Nagar in Deonar and adjacent areas of Govandi, while the fifth clinic was operational in the Naupada locality of Bandra East. The sudden action by police and municipal health officials created a stir among illegal practitioners across the surrounding neighborhoods.
Detailed Profile of the Five Accused and Action Taken
Following thorough verifications by the Crime Branch and BMC medical inspectors, formal legal proceedings were initiated against all five practitioners. The specifics of the individuals identified in the police action are as follows
- Sageer Ahmad Abdul Majid Hashmi (39): Operated 'Dr. Sageer Clinic' in Govandi. He was arrested after failing to produce any valid medical credentials or authorization.
- Keshav Prasad Kuddur Patel (56): Practiced at 'Patel Clinic' in Govandi without required medical qualifications and was placed under arrest by the police.
- Mohammad Aftab Shaukat Khan (56): Operated 'Aftab Khan Clinic' in Bandra East and faces the most severe allegations in the investigation. He was taken into custody.
- Akhilesh Kumar Devendra Kumar Dubey (47): Displayed a signboard for 'Gayatri Clinic' as a BHMS Family Physician in Govandi. Police confiscated allopathic drugs and served a formal notice.
- Mehmood Alam Mohammad Sharif Shaikh (36): Practiced at 'Ayesha Clinic' in Govandi using a BHMS signboard while administering allopathic treatment. Allopathic medicines were seized and a notice was issued.
Misuse of BHMS Credentials for Allopathic Practice
The raid highlighted a growing concern regarding practitioners holding degrees in alternative medicine administering allopathic therapies without authorization. Both Akhilesh Kumar Devendra Kumar Dubey and Mehmood Alam Mohammad Sharif Shaikh possessed Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) degrees and had displayed their registration numbers on clinic signboards outside Ayesha Clinic and Gayatri Clinic. However, inspections revealed large stocks of allopathic drugs inside their premises. Officers confiscated all allopathic items and issued formal notices instructing both practitioners to strictly confine their practice to homeopathy as permitted by law. Both individuals admitted their lapse to the authorities and tendered written apologies.
Seizure of Allopathic Medicines and Medical Equipment Worth Rs 1.19 Lakh
During the coordinated raids, officials recovered a wide array of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals valued at Rs 1,19,324. The seized inventory includes multiple vials of injectable medicines, disposable syringes, high-potency antibiotic tablets, blood pressure monitors, stethoscopes, digital blood glucose monitoring kits, nebulizers, and essential first-aid diagnostic equipment. None of the clinics had legal authorization or prescription rights for stocking or dispensing these allopathic pharmaceutical items.
12th-Pass Practitioner Faces Serious Investigation Over Fake Certificates
The most alarming findings emerged from 'Aftab Khan Clinic' located in Naupada, Bandra East, run by 56-year-old Mohammad Aftab Shaukat Khan. When the Crime Branch unit entered the clinic, four patients were waiting in line to receive medical treatment. Upon interrogation regarding his medical degrees, Khan conceded that he had studied only up to Class 12 and possessed no genuine medical qualifications. When pressed for documentation, he presented certificates purportedly issued by the Maharashtra Council of Indian Medicine and the All India Ayurveda Vidyapeeth. Investigating officers suspect these certificates to be forged and have initiated a detailed verification process to determine their origin.
Cases Registered at Deonar and Nirmal Nagar Police Stations
Following the completion of search and seizure procedures, Mumbai Police registered formal cases against all five individuals under relevant sections of law and medical practice regulations. The primary First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed at the Deonar and Nirmal Nagar police stations. BMC health officials and Mumbai Police emphasized that strict monitoring will continue across all municipal zones to curb unauthorized medical practices and protect citizens from unqualified practitioners.
