Despite repeated complaints over several months by various city hospitals about con men trying to extract money from relatives of patients, the Pune police have failed to track down the culprits. What’s worse, the incidents are increasing in frequency with one such case being reported at Aditya Birla Hospital on Saturday.
This despite the fact that Ruby Hall Clinic authorities reported three cases last week and asked the crime branch to intervene.
dna has reported a series of stories on the con men in the last couple of months.
In the latest case, Rahul Bhujang Khenat (24) lodged a complaint against an unidentified person for allegedly duping him of Rs1.2 lakh on Thursday. Khenat complained to the police that he received a call asking for money on the pretext to provide medicines to his ailing grandmother, who has been admitted to Aditya Birla Hospital.
According to the police, the con man posed as Dr Deshpande and asked Rahul to deposit the amount in a bank account. Initially, Rahul deposited Rs20,000 in the bank account and thereafter Rs1 lakh on November 5. The incident came to light when Rahul discussed this with hospital authorities on Saturday, who denied about asking for any such amount.
Meanwhile, the con men have been targeting patients admitted to prominent hospitals in the city for last several months. As a result, relatives of critical patients who are already in a disturbed state of mind are targeted by con men who are trying to make a quick buck out of their sorry situation. Interestingly, Ruby Hall Clinic authorities had made complaints to Koregaon Park police station in the past and recently they again submitted an application to the Pune crime branch.
Con man identified
The top brass of the Pune police have asked the anti-extortion cell (AEC) to probe into the case further. Sources from the AEC told dna that they have identified the con man. Speaking to dna, sources said, “We have identified the con man. He has criminal records and has been duped many people by giving false promises of getting done their work. Moreover, the con man was arrested two times in the past. Once for issuing thereat calls to city’s former police commissioner and second time a threatening call to an Aurangabad commissioner. Besides, he was recently arrested by Samartha police for duping patients’ relatives at KEM Hospital.”
Sources added, “The problem is that the con man’s both kidneys have failed. So, he got out on bail and started operating in the city. He keeps changing places and makes random calls to hospitals. We will arrest him soon.”
Deputy commissioner of police (crime) Rajesh Bansode told dna, “Our investigations in the case are going on and we will arrest the suspect soon.”
Similar incidents in the past
A 58-year-old patient from Khandala was admitted for oral cancer surgery in Ruby Hall Clinic in June. The patient’s wife took the call made by the con man and gave him her son’s mobile number. The con man called up the next day and identified himself as Dr Abhijit Jadhav and duped the patient’s relatives of Rs17,300 for an injection that was to be urgently brought from Mumbai. Similarly, after a few days, the con man duped the patients’ relatives of Rs30,000 under pretext of medical treatment.
On July 10, the con man entered the room of Aftaabbi Daruwale (75) and asked her son to collect reports from the ground floor. He made away with valuables worth Rs42,000 kept on the table near her bed.
The modus operandi
As of now the con man has targeted patients’ relatives at Ruby Hall Clinic, KEM Hospital and now Aditya Birla Hospital. Interestingly, such incidents have been reported at the hospital since June. Shockingly, the hospital managements say that the incidents reported to the police are only the tip of the iceberg. For every case that’s reported, at least a dozen go unreported to the police.
Pune police say that the con man would pose as a hospital staffer and make calls to patients’ relatives and loot them on the pretext of demanding payment for medical examination and treatment. Before striking at any hospital, the con man would dig out information of patients who have been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) or patients with serious illness. The culprit would then call up the patients’ relatives and ask for money for medial treatment. He would give a bank account number and ask them to deposit the money in that account.
Hospitals becoming a source of other crimes
February 10, 2012:
A con man, posing as a doctor, robbed Vijaya Panhale (64) of four gold bangles and mangalsutra valued at Rs1.1 lakh at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital on the pretext of conducting an electrocardiogram (ECG).
September 28, 2011: A man posing as a hospital staffer robbed a woman of four bangles weighing six tolas at Jehangir Hospital.
September 21, 2011:
A 75-year-old patient was robbed of jewellery and cash totally valued at Rs42,000 by a con man posing as a doctor at Ruby Hall Clinic.
December 2010:
Two purses containing cash and cellphones were stolen from Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital.
August 12, 2010:
A con man posing as a doctor stole a woman’s jewellery valued at Rs30,000 at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital.
August 12, 2010:
A man posing as a
doctor stole a patient’s
gold bangles at Poona Hospital.
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