Pune: A female naturopathy doctor was recently booked for allegedly duping a woman of Rs 1.47 crore in the name of treatment by falsely informing her that she was suffering from a serious liver problem and later, cancer.
The medical practitioner was booked based on a complaint moved by the 58-year-old woman with the Wanavdi police station on Friday after the doctor allegedly failed to provide medical reports or treatment papers.
In her complaint, the patient, who is an auditor at the principal controller of defense accounts stated that she came in contact with the doctor via one of her common friends in 2017, and the Naturopathy practitioner even treated her for her knee problem at her naturopathy clinic in Kondhwa Budruk.
Thereafter, the complainant approached the doctor in June 2020, as she was suffering from a medical condition but the doctor reportedly informed her that she has closed her clinic and has taken a franchise of a Canada-based Ayurveda organization, however, she confirmed that she is still treating patients in Pune city.
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As per a recent media report in The Indian Express, the patient explained her problems and symptoms to the doctor, and without conducting any medical tests, the doctor allegedly told the complainant that she was suffering from "Liver ascites" and also suggested to start the treatment as early as possible as the illness could be life-threatening.
In order to start the treatment, the complainant paid money to the doctor who allegedly brought her some tablets also in red, black, green, and white plastic bags.
The complainant further mentioned that despite questioning the doctor about the medications and prescriptions many times, the doctor only showed her photographs of liver damage on her cellphone and insisted that she must not stop the treatment so that she can avoid the fatal circumstances in September.
Further, the doctor allegedly informed her that a cancerous tumor was growing on the upper portion of her liver and also confirmed that the tumor can be treated very easily with ayurvedic medication. After that, the complainant allegedly kept on submitting money for the treatment and most of the transition occurred by cheque.
However, soon after, the woman started facing financial crunches and sought the help of her husband for arranging Rs 7 lakhs. When her husband, who was a lawyer came to know about the treatment, he suggested that the doctor should provide them with the medical reports and the treatment papers.
As reported by TIE, the woman then contacted the doctor but he allegedly denied producing any medical report and treatment papers. On December 3rd the woman along with her husband and a lawyer friend met the doctor but even during the meeting, the doctor allegedly refused to deliver any medical report and stated that medical reports will not be handed over to the patient until the treatment is over.
Subsequently, realizing that they might have been conned and cheated on regarding the entire process of treatment, the woman approached the police and filed a case of cheating against the doctor.
Police Sub-Inspector Bholenath Ahiwale, who is the investigating officer of the case, told the daily, "The complainant has paid nearly Rs 1.45 crore to the accused via cheques and Rs 1.75 lakh in cash. The accused has not been arrested yet, but her bank accounts have been sealed. Further investigation is on."
The doctor has now been booked under section 420 of the Indian Penal Code following the complaint of the woman.