5 quacks held from south, central Mumbai

Mumbai: The Mumbai crime branch (CB) has arrested five quacks from south and central Mumbai in raids carried out by special teams. The officials found that the accused persons were holding either a BUMS degree or no degree at all. The officials are now in the process of tracking the people who were treated by these quacks.

The arrested accused include: Shahid Hussain Baig (62) from Dongri; Kamaal Hussain (38) from the RAK Marg area; Shahabuddin Shaikh (43) from Antop Hill; Jafermiya Shaikh (55) from Dharavi; and Bilal Hussain (32) from Kurla.

The accused had been operating out of their respective neighbourhoods for long and enjoyed the confidence of the poor. Their medicines, prescriptions and patients are now being looked into.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Baig had passed Class 8 and held a BUMS degree and operated under the name Ansari Ajibulla. Hussain had an academic record similar to Baig and operated under his own identity. Shahabuddin Shaikh had failed Class 10 but held a BUMS degree. Jafermiya Shaikh had passed Class 10 whereas Hussain had failed Class 10 but both operated under their original identities.

“These quacks had advertised at stations, in public toilets and similar places. They would prescribe medicines for sexual diseases by instilling the fear of bigger problems in the patient. They would give some powders and jadi buti (herb) in the name of medicines,” said a CB officer.

The accused have been booked for cheating, forgery, acts endangering the life and personal safety of others under the Indian Penal Code and the Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act.