Police have detained a woman accused of posing as a doctor and stealing gold ornaments from patients admitted to hospitals in Hyderabad.
The suspect, identified as Gundla Sirisha (25), is a resident of Nawabpet mandal in Vikarabad district. Investigators said she had previously completed a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) course but allegedly turned to crime for financial gain.
According to police sources, Sirisha allegedly wore a white coat and carried a stethoscope to impersonate a doctor. By doing so, she was able to enter reputed hospitals and move freely through patient wards without raising suspicion.
Officials said she first collected patient details from hospital reception counters and then identified individuals wearing heavy gold jewellery. Police added that she particularly targeted patients who were alone and did not have attendants nearby.
Investigators said Sirisha would approach selected patients, gain their trust, and administer sedatives under the pretext of treatment. Once the patients lost consciousness, she allegedly removed their gold ornaments and fled.
On March 10, she reportedly targeted a patient named Aruna at a private hospital in Nallagandla. Police said she drugged the patient and stole around 15 tolas of gold, estimated to be worth Rs24 lakh.
The following day, March 11, she allegedly carried out another theft at a private hospital in Secunderabad. In that incident, police said she targeted a patient named Sudha Rani and escaped with about 10 tolas of gold jewellery.
Authorities treated the incidents as a serious security concern. Investigators reviewed CCTV footage from the hospitals and tracked the suspect’s movements through surveillance cameras.
Police later detained Sirisha using technical and surveillance evidence. During questioning, officers discovered her alleged involvement in additional thefts and are now examining whether she was linked to similar cases in other hospitals.
Officials said the investigation is ongoing and efforts are underway to recover the stolen gold. Additional charges may be filed depending on the outcome of the probe.
