Rajkot: A 49-year-old year man, who has only passed Class 12, was arrested by police for allegedly practising medicine without any medical qualification for nearly two decades in the coastal town of Okha in Devbhumi Dwarka District.Special operations group (SOG) sleuths arrested Lalit Rabadiya and registered a case against him under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 30 of the Gujarat Medical Practitioners Act. He was arrested on Saturday after a tip-off was received that he was posing as a qualified doctor and illegally treating patients, putting lives at risk.According to officials, Rabadiya ran a clinic in the Bhunga area of Okha, which attracts fishermen from across the country who stay there for several months each year.“These fishermen and other villagers were his regular patients,” said SOG inspector K K Gohil.Acting on specific intelligence, police raided his clinic and seized medical equipment including a glucometer and a stethoscope, along with 14 types of medicines. The stock included antibiotics, painkillers, antifungal medicines, drugs for acidity and gastrointestinal ailments, as well as medication used for nausea and menstrual conditions.Police officials said Rabadiya was not performing surgeries or administering injections but was prescribing and distributing medicines to patients.“He was caught for the first time. He was not giving injections or performing any procedures, but he was providing medicines,” said V N Singrakhiya, inspector, Okha Marine police station.An offence has been registered and Rabadiya was later released on bail as the charges carry a maximum punishment of less than seven years.Rabadiya reportedly told investigators that he had learned the basics of medicine while assisting his uncle, a doctor in Rajkot district, who has since passed away.
