Assam: Fake Doctor Arrested in Silchar for Performing Over 50 Caesarean Sections with Forged Credentials

SILCHAR-  In a shocking case of medical fraud, a 43-year-old man posing as a qualified doctor was arrested in Silchar, Assam, for performing over 50 caesarean sections and other gynaecological surgeries over a decade without any valid medical qualifications. The accused, identified as Pulak Malakar, was apprehended by Cachar Police while conducting a surgery at Shibsundari Nari Shiksha Seva Ashram Hospital, one of the city’s oldest and most reputed healthcare institutions.

According to Cachar Senior Superintendent of Police, Numal Mahatta, the arrest followed a tip-off that prompted an investigation into Malakar’s credentials. “We verified his documents and found that all his certificates, including an alleged MBBS degree from a government medical college in Odisha and a certificate in disaster management from Pune, were forged,” Mahatta stated.

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Malakar, a resident of Badarpurghat in Sribhumi district, had been masquerading as an obstetrician and gynaecologist since 2016, working at two private hospitals in Silchar, including Shibsundari Hospital.

The incident came to light on August 3, 2025, when police raided the hospital’s operation theatre and caught Malakar in the act of performing a caesarean section on a pregnant woman. The patient was safely transferred to another facility, and Malakar was arrested on the spot.

He was produced before a local court on August 4, which remanded him to five days of police custody for further investigation. A case has been registered against him under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges for cheating, forgery, negligent acts endangering human life, and petty organized crime.

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Hospital authorities claimed they were unaware of Malakar’s fraudulent credentials, stating he was referred by a senior doctor and had only assisted in surgeries, not performed them independently. However, an internal inquiry was initiated a month prior due to suspicions about his qualifications, which was ongoing when the police intervened.

“We are fully cooperating with the investigation,” said a hospital spokesperson, amid growing public outrage over the lapse in oversight.

The arrest has sparked widespread concern in Silchar, with residents questioning the integrity of the healthcare system. “How could someone with no qualifications operate in a reputed hospital for so long? This suggests a deeper nexus,” said a local resident.

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Social media posts have drawn comparisons to the fictional character from the Bollywood film *Munna Bhai MBBS*, though authorities warn that the real-life consequences of such deception could be catastrophic.

The Assam government’s Anti-Quackery and Vigilance Cell, established in January 2025 following the passage of The Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024, has been instrumental in cracking down on fake doctors. Malakar marks the 50th such arrest under this initiative, led by Dr. Abhijit Neog, vigilance officer of the Assam Council of Medical Registration.

Police suspect a larger racket involving the sale of fake MBBS degrees may be operating in the Barak Valley, and investigations are underway to uncover any accomplices. Authorities have seized hospital records to assess the condition of patients operated on by Malakar, raising concerns about potential health risks.

The incident underscores the vulnerability of semi-urban and rural areas to quackery, with tea garden workers and lower-income groups often targeted by such impostors. As the investigation continues, the case has reignited calls for stricter vetting processes in hospitals and heightened vigilance to protect public safety. The police have assured a thorough probe to bring all those involved in this dangerous deception to justice