Raipur: Alleged fake cardiologist Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav aka N John Camm has been brought to Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh from Damoh jail in Madhya Pradesh as part of the investigation into the death of seven patients, including former Chhattisgarh assembly Speaker Rajendra Prasad Shukla in 2006.
Camm is in judicial custody after being arrested for allegedly carrying out unauthorised cardiac surgeries at Mission Hospital in Damoh, causing the death of multiple patients.
He was brought to Bilaspur (420km from Damoh) on Friday on a production warrant. Bilaspur police have sought three days’ remand to interrogate Camm even as another complainant has come forward to blame Yadav aka Camm for his father’s death.
Authorities say he has no degree in cardiology and he was never registered with Chhattisgarh Medical Council, disqualifying him from performing any procedures such as angioplasty.
An FIR has been filed against Camm and Apollo Hospital management at Sarkanda police station in Bilaspur under serious charges, including culpable homicide and cheating.
Police described the case as “not just one of medical negligence, but a heinous criminal act”.
Senior SP Rajnesh Singh said Yadav’s medical credentials were ‘unverifiable’. “His registration with Indian Medical Council or Chhattisgarh Medical Council has not been found. We have included all the patients he treated at the Bilaspur hospital in the investigation. One more patient, Bhagat Ram Dodeja, also died under his care,” Singh said.
The ‘fake cardiologist’ scandal erupted in MP but its aftershocks were soon felt in Chhattisgarh when the accused’s past came under scrutiny. Dr. Pradeep Shukla, son of former speaker Rajendra Prasad Shukla, recently filed a formal complaint against Camm.
According to the complaint, the veteran Congress MLA was admitted to Apollo Hospital, Bilaspur, on Aug 2, 2006, with breathing issues. He underwent angiography and angioplasty, performed by the accused, after which his condition worsened and he died 18 days later.
Another alleged victim’s family has also come forward — Suresh Kumar Dodeja, a resident of Torwa in Bilaspur alleges that his father Bhagtram Dodeja died under Yadav’s care. This case has now been incorporated into the larger investigation.
The Bilaspur chief medical and health officer (CMHO) has served a notice on Apollo Hospital, demanding answers on Camm’s employment, patient records, qualifications, and whether any prior complaints had been filed. The hospital has been asked to submit all documentation within three days.
Camm claims he is the victim of a conspiracy and maintains that his degrees are genuine.
The incident has sparked outrage across Chhattisgarh. The district Congress committee organized a ‘Health Justice March’ on Friday, led by PCC chief Deepak Baij, Leader of Opposition Dr. Charandas Mahant and former deputy CM T S Singh Deo.
