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The police have invoked Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections of impersonation, forgery, criminal conspiracy, and causing deaths in the fake cardiologist case.

(File Photo/ Representational)

Four days after a First Information Report (FIR) was lodged in connection with a case of alleged impersonation of a cardiologist in Faridabad, the Haryana Police are yet to receive relevant medical records from the civil hospital where the accused imposter was working at a heart centre.

The police on Tuesday registered the FIR against the doctor, identified as Pankaj Mohan Sharma, and five officials associated with the private hospital that had employed him.

Sharma, who conducted around 50 heart surgeries over eight months at the hospital, continues to have his phone switched off when contacted.

"We will arrest the main accused imposter soon. The others, we will call them to give their statements and ascertain their role. They obviously had some role to play, even if at the document verification stage, it cannot be otherwise, so they have to answer," Maqsood Ahmed, Faridabad Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Industrial Township (NIT), told The Indian ExpressSaturday.

The doctor, who allegedly has only an MBBS degree, worked at the heart centre operated by a Kerala-based private hospital for around eight months.

The heart centre was operating out of the government-run Badshah Khan Hospital.

It was shut down in February this year over compliance issues.

DCP Ahmed added that they have asked for all relevant medical and patient records from the hospital and the Chief Medical Officer.

"We have asked for records relating to the surgeries done and deaths, etc. We have not received it yet. As soon as we do, we will begin working on it. We will be questioning the private hospital's management."

The FIR was based on a complaint filed in April by Sanjay Gupta, a city-based advocate.

The police have invoked Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections of impersonation, forgery, criminal conspiracy, and causing deaths in the matter.

Meanwhile, Faridabad Chief Medical Officer Dr Jayant Ahuja said Saturday that only the private hospital would have the necessary medical or patient records for the case.

"We do not have any such records. The matter is sub judice now, so no further comments."

The managing director and HR head of the Kerala-based hospital have also been named as accused.

Several complaints were also raised on the CM's portal.

His prescriptions allegedly falsely displayed his credentials as MD and DNB (Cardiology), and he used a stamp identifying himself as a cardiologist, further deceiving patients and hospital management, said officers.

The FIR mentioned that Sharma served as the managing director of a film-making company.

In his complaint, Gupta pointed out that at least three FIRs had been filed earlier against the heart centre and its staff.

'Want murder, culpable homicide charges added'

Gupta told The Indian Express on Saturday that the matter had come to light based on both his investigations as well as the real doctor's complaint.

"The FIR took four months to be lodged. I alerted the authorities by email and through letters, be it the police, the chief secretary, or the Health Department, in the first week of February itself. But there were no proceedings. Recently, I met the DCP (recently) with the evidence. Then the case started rolling," he said.

In the echocardiogram matter, he shared he is also a witness in the case.

"I had gone for a check-up at the time as I was having some trouble. The raid happened in front of me," he revealed.

The record of three deaths is with him, and he suspects that the records of surgeries conducted by the imposter are missing since the number of deaths would have been by now otherwise.

"I have even received information that the Chairman and managing director of the private hospital is planning to flee the country, and have received threats to withdraw the complaint. If the records are discovered, it will be known whether the patients are alive or have died. For now, the full figures are not known officially," he said.

Regarding the offences invoked in the FIR, he said, given the nature of the crime, attempt to murder and culpable homicide (amounting to murder) should also have been invoked.

"I will continue being part of the case and the legal journey to follow to get these charges added. I will stand by the victims and ensure their bail pleas of the accused are vigorously opposed," Gupta asserted.

DCP Ahmed said that though the complaint and certain reports mentioned at least three deaths, they cannot act on it until they have any substantial records.

"So far, we have only got his (accused's) educational documents, which on verification were found to be fake and led to the FIR. Once we get information about the deaths, we will certainly go about adding whatever sections are deemed necessary."