Surat, Gujarat — In a major crackdown that has sent shockwaves through Gujarat’s healthcare ecosystem, authorities have unearthed a sprawling and deeply rooted fake medical degree racket centered around so-called “Electro-Homeopathy” treatments. The operation, based primarily in Surat, ran uninterrupted for over two decades, deceiving thousands of unsuspecting patients and raking in more than ₹10 crore. At the center of this medical fraud is a bogus entity named the “Board of Electro Homeopathic Medicine,” which never had any legal standing or recognition by government agencies or health regulatory bodies.
The Long-Running Deception: A Parallel Medical System
The entire scheme was built upon the illusion of a legitimate alternative medical system. Operating under the banner of Electro-Homeopathy, a therapy not officially recognized by the Indian medical regulatory framework, the accused ran unauthorized clinics, trained individuals, and issued falsified degrees—including the now-notorious Bachelor of Electro Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BEMS). These “degrees” were sold to hundreds of aspiring practitioners, many of whom went on to establish their own clinics, armed with nothing more than worthless certificates and dangerous confidence.
What started as a fringe movement in alternative medicine eventually morphed into an underground empire of medical malpractice, capitalizing on the desperation of job seekers and the trust of patients. The ringleaders, posing as doctors, deans, and board officials, crafted an entire illusion—complete with fake stamps, forged registration numbers, identity cards, and even a certificate-issuing body.
Crackdown Begins: Police Raids and Arrests
The breakthrough came after several complaints were lodged with the state medical and health authorities. Tip-offs about unqualified individuals treating patients led to discreet surveillance, during which glaring anomalies were uncovered. In a series of coordinated raids across Surat and nearby districts, law enforcement teams recovered dozens of BEMS degree certificates, forged registration records, fraudulent identity cards, and other paraphernalia resembling the official documentation of medical boards.
Investigators were stunned by the scale of the fraud. The fake board had created an entire infrastructure—complete with fabricated institutional names, board insignia, examination formats, convocation records, and even fee receipts. A large stash of computer systems, rubber stamps, blank certificates, and hard disks containing candidate databases was seized during the operation.
Among those arrested were the key masterminds who had been running the racket like a shadow university. They admitted during interrogation that they had collected fees ranging between ₹80,000 to ₹2.5 lakh per student, promising recognition as registered medical practitioners.
An Industry of Impersonation: Clinics Across Gujarat and Beyond
Many individuals who bought into this scam began practicing independently in Gujarat and neighboring states. These fake doctors established clinics, treated patients, prescribed medications, and in some cases even conducted minor procedures—endangering public health and exploiting trust.
In some clinics, authorities found that the accused had hung degree certificates on the walls, adorned themselves with lab coats and stethoscopes, and used prescription pads bearing fake credentials. The public, unaware of the fraudulent background of these practitioners, placed their trust in them, with some victims now coming forward after experiencing complications or ineffective treatments.
Several clinics have now been sealed, and notices have been served to others believed to have links to the racket. Health authorities are working on compiling a list of all BEMS “graduates” issued credentials by this fake board and cross-referencing those names with known clinics.
Victims Speak: “We Thought They Were Real Doctors”
Patients who were treated by these pseudo-doctors have expressed betrayal and outrage. Many shared stories of being charged for extended treatment plans, herbal medicines, and electro-therapy regimens that yielded no improvement. Some were even diverted away from necessary allopathic interventions under the guise of “permanent cures” through electro-homeopathy.
A few affected patients, now aware of the fraud, have initiated legal complaints and medical negligence suits. Several have undergone re-evaluation by registered healthcare professionals and discovered that their conditions had either worsened or remained untreated during their time under fake medical care.
The Fake Board: No Legal Recognition, No Curriculum, No Accountability
The so-called “Board of Electro Homeopathic Medicine” operated without any statutory approval, UGC recognition, or affiliation to any regulatory health council such as the Medical Council of India, the AYUSH Ministry, or the State Medical Councils. Its operations were illegal from inception, but due to weak enforcement and a general lack of public awareness, it was allowed to function unchecked for years.
Officials confirmed that neither Electro-Homeopathy nor BEMS degrees are recognized under any Indian medical education framework. The Ministry of AYUSH has repeatedly cautioned against such fraudulent degrees, yet operators of such schemes continue to exploit the grey areas of alternative medicine.
Authorities are now seeking the cooperation of banks, property registration offices, and telecom providers to trace the financial trails and identify how the scam leaders laundered the income generated from selling fake degrees and running clinics.
A Wake-Up Call: Systemic Reforms on the Horizon
This scam is more than just a case of academic fraud—it is a public health disaster in the making. The incident has prompted the Gujarat government and the Ministry of Health to urgently examine the loopholes that allowed such a racket to thrive for two decades. Health officials are now planning a statewide verification drive of all practicing alternative medicine doctors to identify further forgeries.
Regulatory reforms are being discussed, including the establishment of a centralized registry for all legitimate degree holders in alternative medical systems, and the integration of such registries with national ID and qualification databases to allow easy background checks by both patients and employers.
Medical associations are also pushing for mandatory QR-code verification on medical degrees and stricter penalties for those posing as doctors. Additionally, efforts are being made to sensitize the public about the risks of seeking treatment from unverified practitioners.
Conclusion: A Long Road to Accountability
The Surat Electro-Homeopathy racket is a striking reminder of how vulnerable the public can be to the exploitation of healthcare. It highlights the urgent need for vigilance—not only from authorities but also from patients who must insist on seeing verified credentials before undergoing treatment.
As the investigation expands, more arrests are expected, and a massive cleanup operation is underway. But the scars of this scam—both in terms of public trust and patient health—will take far longer to heal.
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