Surat doctor accused of tech theft by another

A doctor in Surat is being investigated by the crime branch for allegedly stealing hair plant technology developed by another doctor with the help of the latter’s employee.

According to the police, Pradip Atodaria, a plastic surgeon at Harisiddhi hospital in Sagrampura, developed a machine for hair transplant a year back and also got its patent in India. He had also applied for an international patent, which is awaited.

A few weeks back, Atodaria came to know that Mayur Lekhadia, another city-based plastic surgeon, was claiming credit for his innovation. Lekhadia had even pasted information about the technique and posted pictures on a chat website to support his claim.

Atodaria said he was shocked on learning about this, following which he approached the police and registered a complaint against Lekhadia.

“It happened that Lekhadia stole two important parts of the innovation from Atodaria’s hospital. One Mahendra Vasawa, working at Atodaria’s hospital, conducted the theft for Lekhadia, and supplied the same to the latter” a DCB official said.

The cop added that Lekhadia could not give satisfactory answers to questions related to the technology on being quizzed. A case was registered against him under IPC 380, 196 and 120 (B).