Daund Police Nab Unqualified Practitioner with 6.5 Lakh in Cash

In a swift operation, Daund police have arrested a Rajasthan native who was masquerading as a qualified physician in rural Pune district. The raid, conducted on Thursday, yielded a haul of medicines, injection vials, and currency notes totaling Rs 6.54 lakh, highlighting the scale of the illicit enterprise. Omprakash Swarnakar had opened his clinic in the Akha Devasti locality of Kasurdi village near Yavat, far from any regulatory oversight. Officers recovered tablets and injectables from companies such as Cipla, Intas, and Lyford, along with 381 suspicious bottles and numerous syringes. A vehicle used to ferry additional supplies was also impounded. The complaint originated from Dr Ashish Shankar Shirase of the Khamgaon primary health centre, prompting registration of offences under relevant sections of the new criminal code and the 1961 Medical Practice Act. Investigators are now probing whether the accused had any medical training whatsoever and if patients were charged exorbitant fees for spurious treatments. Health activists in the region say such busts are essential to protect vulnerable populations who often turn to cheaper, unverified options due to long waits at government hospitals. The case also raises questions about how fake credentials can circulate unchecked in small-town India. Senior police officials have assured that similar surprise checks will continue in other tehsils to deter copycat operations and safeguard public health.