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Faridabad, Haryana: In a shocking case of medical fraud, an MBBS-qualified doctor allegedly posed as a specialist cardiologist and performed more than 50 heart surgeries at the Heart Care Centre of the District Civil Hospital, Badshah Khan, Faridabad. The accused, Dr. Pankaj Mohan Sharma, reportedly impersonated renowned city cardiologist Dr. Pankaj Mohan, using his name and registration number to secure the position and treat patients.
Fraudulent Activities Uncovered
According to reports, Dr. Sharma served at the heart centre from July 2024 to February 2025. During this period, he conducted numerous heart surgeries and procedures, despite lacking any specialized training or qualification in cardiology. Several patients experienced complications after surgery, and some tragically lost their lives.
The deception came to light when patients suffering post-surgery complications sought out the real Dr. Pankaj Mohan, only to discover he had never worked at the civil hospital. This revelation triggered an internal inquiry, which exposed the months-long malpractice at the heart centre, operating under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model since 2018.
How the Impersonation Worked
Dr. Sharma, whose name closely resembled that of the real cardiologist, exploited this similarity to his advantage. He used Dr. Mohan’s registration number (2456) instead of his own MBBS registration (28482) and even issued prescriptions bearing a forged stamp identifying him as a DNB (Cardiology) specialist.
Initially, Dr. Sharma was hired by Mediterina Hospital, which manages the heart centre, as a general physician. However, he soon began presenting himself as a cardiologist. When hospital authorities requested his credentials, he failed to provide them and abruptly stopped reporting to work in February 2025.
Investigation and Legal Action
The real Dr. Pankaj Mohan filed complaints with the Indian Medical Association and the Chief Medical Officer, as well as sending a legal notice to Dr. Sharma. The case was further escalated when Dr. Mohan’s lawyer, Sanjay Gupta, also a social activist, lodged a complaint with the NIT Faridabad police station on April 11, 2025.
Dr. M Pratap Kumar, CMD of Mediterina Hospital, stated, “Dr. Sharma had been removed. He applied through formal HR channels as a general physician. We always had suspicions about his cardiology degree and acted on it.”
Patient Safety and Hospital Accountability
This incident has raised serious concerns about the verification of medical credentials and patient safety in public-private healthcare settings. The hospital management has come under scrutiny for employing an unqualified doctor and failing to detect the fraud sooner.
Authorities are continuing their investigation, and further legal action is expected against Dr. Sharma and any other individuals found complicit in the case.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on information reported by Medical Dialogues and other publicly available sources as of June 2025. The investigation is ongoing, and details may evolve as more facts emerge. Readers are advised to consult official statements and verified news outlets for the latest updates. The information provided here is for general awareness and should not be construed as legal or medical advice.
