Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh |: In a major development in the widely discussed fake cardiologist case in Bilaspur, police have completed their investigation and submitted a closure report before the court regarding the role of Apollo Hospital Bilaspur’s management and selection committee, citing a lack of sufficient evidence to establish criminal liability.
However, the criminal prosecution against the accused Dr. Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav alias Narendra John Cam, who is alleged to have practiced as a cardiologist using forged credentials and fraudulent identity documents, will continue. Police had already filed a charge sheet against him, and the case is currently pending before the court.
Investigation Began After Family Complaint
The investigation originated from a complaint filed on April 9, 2025, by Dr. Pradeep Shukla at Sarkanda Police Station in Bilaspur.
According to the complaint, his father, Late Pt. Rajendra Prasad Shukla, underwent treatment at Apollo Hospital Bilaspur in 2006, where Dr. Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav allegedly performed angiography and angioplasty procedures. The patient later died.
The complainant alleged that the doctor was not a qualified or legally registered cardiologist and that the hospital management had appointed him without proper verification of his qualifications and professional credentials.
Multiple Agencies Assisted the Investigation
During the investigation, police collected records and information from several institutions, including:
- Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO), Bilaspur
- Apollo Hospital Bilaspur
- Superintendent of Police, Damoh (Madhya Pradesh)
- Chhattisgarh Medical Council
- North Bengal Medical College
- Other relevant government and medical authorities
The investigation confirmed that the accused had indeed worked as a cardiologist at Apollo Hospital in 2006. The hospital provided his resume and appointment letter, but it failed to produce original educational certificates or valid Medical Council registration documents related to his appointment.
Serious Discrepancies Found in Credentials
Police uncovered several significant irregularities during the investigation.
The accused claimed to possess qualifications including MBBS, MRCP, and a Fellowship in Interventional Cardiology. However, verification conducted through the relevant Medical Council found no valid medical registration under the name “Narendra John Cam.”
Investigators also found that the accused had allegedly created Aadhaar, PAN, and other identity documents using the alias Narendra John Cam.
Further verification with North Bengal Medical College reportedly found no official record confirming the issuance of an MBBS degree in his name, raising serious concerns about the authenticity of his academic credentials.
Accused Admitted Working as Consultant Cardiologist
The accused was initially arrested in connection with a separate criminal case registered in Damoh, Madhya Pradesh. He was later brought to Bilaspur under a production warrant and interrogated during police custody.
According to police, the accused admitted that he had worked as a Consultant Cardiologist at Apollo Hospital and had performed multiple angiography and angioplasty procedures on patients.
Despite being given opportunities during the investigation, he failed to produce valid specialist qualification documents supporting his claim to practice as a cardiologist. Investigators also found that he had secured employment at the hospital under the name Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav, while using the identity Narendra John Cam in other official documents.
Deaths of 27 Patients Examined
Police stated that information emerged indicating that approximately 27 patients died during the accused doctor’s tenure at the hospital.
However, investigators clarified that they did not receive sufficient documentary evidence or complaints from the families of those patients to establish criminal liability in those individual cases.
Only two complainants formally approached police during the investigation.
Based on the available evidence, police filed Charge Sheet No. 671/2025 before the court on June 27, 2025, against the accused doctor.
Separate Probe Into Apollo Hospital Management
After filing the charge sheet against the accused, police continued a supplementary investigation under Section 173(8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to examine the role of Apollo Hospital’s management and its selection committee.
Investigators re-examined appointment-related records, sought additional documentation from the hospital, reviewed available recruitment records, and recorded statements from Dr. B.R. Prem Kumar and other relevant individuals.
Hospital Cited Unavailability of Old Records
In its written response, Apollo Hospital informed investigators that the appointment had taken place 17–18 years ago, when records were maintained only in physical form.
The hospital stated that the prescribed record retention period had expired and the relevant documents were no longer available, making it impossible to provide additional appointment-related records.
Legal Opinion Found No Evidence of Criminal Conspiracy
The complete case diary was reviewed by senior police officers and the District Prosecution Officer, Bilaspur.
According to the legal opinion obtained during the investigation, the available evidence did not establish that Apollo Hospital’s management or its selection committee knowingly, intentionally, or maliciously appointed the accused doctor as part of any criminal conspiracy.
Investigators concluded that the available material was insufficient to prove active criminal involvement by the hospital administration.
Police Submit Closure Report Against Hospital Management
Based on the overall investigation, police concluded that there is adequate evidence to prosecute Dr. Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav alias Narendra John Cam for forgery, cheating, fabrication of documents, and illegally practicing medicine.
Accordingly, the criminal trial against him will continue before the competent court.
At the same time, investigators found no substantial evidence to establish criminal conspiracy or deliberate involvement on the part of Apollo Hospital Bilaspur’s management, its selection committee, or Dr. B.R. Prem Kumar.
As a result, police have submitted a closure report before the court concerning the hospital management, while emphasizing that the criminal proceedings against the accused doctor remain ongoing.
Note: A closure report submitted by police does not automatically terminate proceedings. The competent court will independently examine the report and decide whether to accept the closure, seek further investigation, or take any other action permitted under law.
