Kolkata, 15 September (H.S.): Amid a crackdown on fake doctors in West Bengal, police have arrested another person allegedly practising as a doctor in Sonarpur, South 24 Parganas district. Sonarpur police arrested Bishwarup Acharya from the Ghasiara area on Monday night. According to police, he claimed to be a cancer specialist and used several degrees, including MBBS and FRCS, after his name. Investigators have found several discrepancies in the certificates and degrees he produced.

According to police sources, Bishwarup operated around eight chambers in different parts of Sonarpur and charged patients Rs 800 per consultation. He had recently rented a house in Ghasiara and opened another chamber there. The house owner reportedly became suspicious after Bishwarup repeatedly opened chambers in different locations and subsequently informed Sonarpur police.

Following the complaint, police personnel visited Bishwarup’s chamber posing as patients. During the preliminary inquiry, officers found several discrepancies in his medical certificates and degrees. He was subsequently arrested.

Police are currently questioning Bishwarup to determine where he obtained the alleged forged medical degrees and certificates and how the documents were arranged.

Investigators are also examining whether Bishwarup had any links with other fake doctors arrested from different parts of the state in recent weeks. A few days ago, police arrested a man identified as Sheikh Sayedul Haque from Talit in Purba Bardhaman district for allegedly practising as a fake doctor. Another person, identified as Zulfikar Mondal, was arrested in North 24 Parganas on similar allegations.

During the investigation into those cases, police had found that the medical certificates recovered from the accused had allegedly been prepared in Bihar. Investigators are now examining whether a similar network was involved in Bishwarup’s case.

Meanwhile, local BJP leaders have blamed the alleged laxity of the previous Trinamool Congress government for the recurring cases of fake doctors in the state. Police, however, are currently focusing on verifying the allegations against Bishwarup and tracing the source of the alleged forged certificates as well as any wider network involved.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh