Indian police arrest 'fake doctor' linked to seven deaths
The alleged scammer, who practised at the private Mission Hospital in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, has been charged with cheating and forgery, police superintendent Shrutkirti Somvanshi told reporters.
"His documents have been found to be fake... The accused doctor has been arrested by our team," Somvanshi said.
The detained man gave his name as "Narendra John Camm", the same as listed on the hospital's website, written in Hindi.
A mugshot published in local media showed him with bleached yellow hair.
The arrest came days after the National Human Rights Commission launched a probe into the deaths of seven patients at Mission Hospital this year.
All seven people had undergone angioplasty surgeries by the arrested man.
'Very disconcerting'
Local media said he had impersonated a real cardiologist in Britain called John Camm, an emeritus professor of clinical cardiology at St George's University of London.
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by the British-based Camm, who told AFP that the case had been "very disconcerting".
Camm, said that the man had "claimed at various times to both be me, and to have been trained by me at St George's Hospital in London".
Camm said he and colleagues had made repeated efforts to stop the fraudster over the past five years.
"I discovered that there was little that I could do about it, but younger colleagues, who were active on social media on the internet did their best," Camm wrote from London.
"Indian physicians and cardiologists quickly rumbled that this man has nothing to do with me and attempted to 'shut him down'."
Camm said that reports of the fraudster had recently been "relatively quiet, and I thought that they had been successful".
He said news of the arrest was "upsetting to me and probably much more so to the relatives of patients" who may have suffered.
Rajendra Shukla, Madhya Pradesh deputy chief minister, said harsh action would be taken against the detainee if found guilty.
The scandal emerged after the family of one of the patients who died came forward to complain.
"As soon as my mother died, the doctor vanished," her son Nabi Qureshi was quoted as saying by broadcaster NDTV.
Reports of individuals posing as doctors are rife in India, especially in rural areas where a large population is illiterate.
Authorities have cracked down on fake doctors in recent years, raiding clinics and making arrests.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UAE Moments
6 hours ago
- UAE Moments
Palestine Action Wins Bid to Challenge UK Ban
In a significant development, Huda Ammori, co-founder of the pro-Palestinian campaign group Palestine Action, has won her bid to legally challenge the UK government's decision to ban the organization under anti-terrorism laws. The ruling, issued by London's High Court, opens the door for a full judicial review into whether the proscription infringes on civil liberties, including the right to freedom of expression. Palestine Action, founded in 2020, has made headlines in recent years for its direct action campaigns targeting Israel-linked companies in the UK. Their protests have involved spraying red paint, blocking access to buildings, and damaging equipment used in arms manufacturing. The group claims these actions are aimed at ending British complicity in what it describes as Israeli war crimes in Gaza. Despite these claims, the UK Home Office, led by Interior Minister Yvette Cooper, enacted a ban on the group that came into effect shortly after midnight on July 5, following the failure of a legal appeal to suspend it. The proscription officially designates Palestine Action as a terrorist organization, making membership a criminal offense punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The legal challenge centers around the argument that this ban constitutes a 'disproportionate interference' with freedom of speech. Judge Martin Chamberlain, in his ruling, stated that Ammori's case is 'reasonably arguable,' thereby granting permission for a judicial review of the government's actions. The impact of the ban has been immediate and widespread. Since July 5, dozens of individuals have been arrested for holding signs showing support for Palestine Action. Ammori's legal team argues that the ban has had a chilling effect on free speech, with individuals voicing support for Palestinian rights now facing increased scrutiny from law enforcement. The British government, however, maintains its stance. Yvette Cooper emphasized that 'violence and criminal damage have no place in legitimate protest,' citing specific incidents such as the breaking into a military base and damaging of two aircraft as justification for the group's proscription. Meanwhile, Israel has denied accusations of war crimes in Gaza, following the escalation of violence that began on October 7, 2023, after an attack by Hamas militants on Israeli territory. The ongoing conflict has heightened tensions and intensified scrutiny of activism related to the Palestinian cause worldwide. The upcoming judicial review will be closely watched by human rights advocates, legal experts, and political observers alike, as it could set a precedent for how far governments can go in limiting activism under national security laws. For now, Palestine Action remains a banned organization, but Ammori's legal victory marks the first step in potentially overturning the proscription and reigniting debate on the balance between security and civil liberties in the UK.
Arabian Post
13 hours ago
- Arabian Post
SEBI Expands Investigation into Jane Street Trading Practices
The Securities and Exchange Board of India has escalated its investigation into the trading activities of Jane Street, a global proprietary trading firm, as part of a broader probe into alleged market manipulation. The regulatory body has now requested trading data from several Indian stock exchanges, further deepening its scrutiny of the firm's involvement in the country's financial markets. SEBI's action stems from claims that Jane Street engaged in manipulation of stock indices through derivative positions. This move follows a regulatory ban imposed on the firm in early July, which temporarily barred it from conducting any trading activities in Indian markets. The ban was issued after SEBI's preliminary findings suggested that Jane Street had used complex strategies to artificially influence the performance of key stock indices. As part of the ongoing investigation, SEBI is focusing on obtaining detailed trading records from exchanges including the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India. The goal is to determine whether the firm's activities, particularly its use of derivatives, involved any illegal practices that could have distorted market prices or harmed retail investors. ADVERTISEMENT Industry experts suggest that the regulator's heightened interest in Jane Street reflects a broader concern about the role of large institutional traders in shaping market dynamics. Derivative positions, often leveraged and high-risk, can be used to exert significant influence on the underlying stocks, especially in a market as liquid as India's. By examining data from exchanges, SEBI aims to clarify the extent of Jane Street's trading strategies and assess whether they align with Indian securities laws. The investigation is seen as a key test of SEBI's ability to enforce its regulations on foreign firms operating in India's rapidly growing financial markets. Despite the firm's global operations, Jane Street has a significant presence in India, with its trading strategies often tied to the country's major stock indices. The firm's complex use of derivatives, particularly index futures, has drawn scrutiny from both regulators and market participants, who have raised concerns about potential market distortion. Jane Street, which is based in the United States, has yet to publicly comment on SEBI's request for trading data or the investigation itself. The firm has previously maintained that its activities are compliant with global market regulations, including those in India. However, the SEBI inquiry underscores growing concerns among global regulators about the tactics employed by large-scale traders in emerging markets. The investigation into Jane Street is part of a broader initiative by SEBI to strengthen its oversight of foreign investment in India. Over the past few years, SEBI has been increasingly focused on improving market transparency and curbing potential manipulative practices, particularly in high-frequency trading and derivative markets. While foreign firms play an essential role in providing liquidity to Indian markets, their influence has raised alarms about potential market imbalances. Market analysts point out that the use of derivatives and other sophisticated financial instruments by international trading firms has brought India into closer alignment with global financial markets. However, the rise of algorithmic and high-frequency trading has led to concerns over market stability, especially in volatile times. In response, SEBI has ramped up its efforts to ensure that such trading does not compromise the fairness or integrity of the market. In the wake of SEBI's actions, some market participants have called for more stringent regulations governing the use of derivatives in India. While derivatives are legal and widely used, their impact on the underlying markets can sometimes be opaque, especially when large institutional players use them in tandem with other strategies to influence stock movements. Calls for greater transparency and stricter enforcement mechanisms are expected to intensify as the investigation continues. The timing of SEBI's investigation is significant, as it comes at a time of heightened global scrutiny on market manipulation and the role of high-frequency traders. In the wake of high-profile cases involving market abuses in other jurisdictions, regulators are under pressure to ensure that trading practices do not undermine investor confidence or market integrity.
The National
15 hours ago
- The National
High Court grants Palestine Action bid to challenge terrorist ban
Palestine Action will be allowed to challenge a UK government decision to designate it a terrorist organisation at the High Court in London, a judge ruled on Wednesday. The protest group's co-founder Huda Ammori sought to challenge Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's decision, which came into effect this month. Mr Justice Chamberlain approved the application on two grounds: first, that the proscription order " amounts to a disproportionate interference with the claimant's and others' rights to freedom of expression, and freedom to protest". Second was that Ms Cooper had not consulted the group before making the proscription order, in breach of "natural justice" and of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Planes damaged The move to proscribe Palestine Action was announced after members of the group damaged two Voyager aircraft at RAF Brize Norton late last month. Police said about £7 million ($9.3 million) worth of damage was caused. The group claimed the planes had been involved in supporting Israel's military action in Gaza via the Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri in Cyprus. But the decision to designate the group was made as early as March, over some of its previous protests. Mr Justice Chamberlain rejected Ms Ammori's claims that the move was unlawful because it was influenced by "the views of pro-Israeli lobby groups", or that the group seeks "to prevent conduct which many regard as amounting to genocide". 'Reasonably arguable' However, he accepted other points. 'As a matter of principle, I consider that it is reasonably arguable that a duty to consult arose,' he said. 'Having considered the evidence, I also consider it reasonably arguable that there was no compelling reason why consultation could not have been undertaken here.' After Wednesday's ruling, Ms Ammori said: 'This landmark decision to grant a judicial review, which could see the Home Secretary's unlawful decision to ban Palestine Action quashed, demonstrates the significance of this case for freedom of speech, expression and assembly, and rights to natural justice in our country, and the rule of law itself.' Judges had previously denied Ms Ammori's legal challenge for an injunction on July 4 that would have postponed the proposed ban, citing a strong public interest in bringing the order into force. The latest ruling was welcomed by campaign groups, who fear the terror designation could have an adverse effect on the wider pro-Palestine protest movement. A representative for Defend Our Juries, the group organising the protests, said: 'Yvette Cooper has no one to blame for this crisis but herself. We are confident the High Court will soon strike down this absurd and repugnant order.' Any ban would mean support for, or membership of, Palestinian Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in jail.
