A 31-year-old man, Utpal Bala, has been arrested by Berhampur Police in Odisha’s Ganjam district for allegedly impersonating an Ayurvedic doctor and cheating multiple people over the past few years. The accused, a resident of Tinna Netajipalli village in Hooghly district, West Bengal, was running an illegal clinic in Berhampur under the guise of a qualified medical professional.
Utpal Bala’s deception began in 2019 when he moved to Berhampur and set up a clinic on Mitra Street in the Gate Bazar area. There, he falsely claimed to hold a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) degree and began offering treatments for various ailments, including piles, sexual dysfunction, and fistula.
Despite lacking any formal medical qualifications, Bala used titles like “Dr. B. Utpal” and advertised his clinic under names such as “Krishna Piles Clinic” and “Sexual Health Clinic”, misleading patients into trusting him. His fake credentials were further reinforced by a wall painting in his clinic that falsely displayed his degree.
According to the Berhampur Police, Utpal Bala had been cheating people by charging them hefty amounts for treatments that were either ineffective or nonexistent. One notable case involved a youth from Kandhamal district, who was reportedly cheated of Rs12,000 after being promised a cure for his medical condition. The victim later realized he had been defrauded, prompting him to file a complaint with the police.
During a raid at the clinic, police seized several items, including surgical instruments, Ayurvedic medicines, and display boards with fake qualifications. The accused has now been charged with fraud and impersonation.
The crime was uncovered after the victim from Kandhamal district informed the police about being cheated by Utpal. Police sources revealed that the accused had a history of unsuccessful academic pursuits, having dropped out after failing his Class 8 exams. He later worked as a food delivery boy in Visakhapatnam before arriving in Berhampur.
Authorities have now confirmed that Utpal Bala has no medical qualifications and is not a licensed practitioner. His fraudulent activities were uncovered after several locals came forward with complaints of being deceived by his false promises.