Man arrested after using fake medical degree to illegally practice radiology

A man in India is now behind bars after illegally impersonating a radiologist at an imaging center for more than two years. 

Subhash Chandra, who is said to be in his 40s, was arrested this week in the Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh. According to the Times of India, Chandra had been illegally practicing as a radiologist at a private ultrasound imaging center for the last two years. 

Chandra was able to do this by presenting fraudulent credentials that made it seem as though he had a medical degree. He allegedly spent the equivalent of a little over $50,000 USD to obtain the fake certificate. 

Suspicion pertaining to Chandra’s credibility first arose in May during the ultrasound center’s registration renewal process. 

"In May, the degree was sent to a Madhya Pradesh university for verification and was found to be fake,” RC Gupta, chief medical officer (CMO), Mainpuri, told the Times. “He was also not registered with medical council in Lucknow.” 

These concerns prompted an investigation by Dr. Surendra Singh from the CMO office in Mainpuri. That investigation led to an additional complaint by an individual who alleged Chandra was practicing illegally. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Santosh Kumar, corroborated the man’s claim, stating that both were found to be true, and Chandra eventually owned up to his actions. 

"During interrogation, the accused admitted to purchasing the fake degrees for lakhs,” the CMO said. 

Chandra was arrested earlier this week. He has been booked on charges of cheating, forgery, intent to use a forged document, fraudulent use of a forged document and more.  

It is believed that Chandra conducted and interpreted thousands of ultrasounds during his time at the imaging center.