Self-proclaimed ayurvedic doctor promised to cure man of his white patches by prescribing medicinal powder; shut shop and absconding after receiving payment
A 30-year-old newspaper vendor, who has been diagnosed with Leukoderma, fell prey to an ‘ayurvedic doctor’ who duped him to the tune of Rs 1.30 lakh by promising to cure him of his white patches.u00a0
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The vaidya charged him for some mysterious powder to apply on the body and later shut his shop and fled. Police have identified the quack and his accomplices and are confident of nabbing them at the earliest.
Karve Nagar resident Sandip Kunjeer lodged a complaint in this regard at Deccan Gymkhana police station, and a case of cheating has been slapped against the bogus vaidya and his four accomplices, police said.
“Last year, I had gone to a shop in Warje to purchase sweets when a woman approached me and told me that her brother, too, was suffering from the skin disorder. She, however, claimed that her brother was completely cured of his white patches after their mother applied some ayurvedic medicine,” Kunjeer.
He then asked the unknown woman to provide him same medicine. “She told me that she would bring her mother to my house so that they could prepare the medicine at home and give it to me,” he said.
After two days, the woman and her mother armed with tula leaves and coconut oil came to my house, and prepared a concoction. “ They told my parents that in order to make the perfect mixture, she would need some more ayurvedic ingredients, and informed us of a shop that has the required portions.
“My parents the two women and I then went to the shop named Renuka Ayurvedik Bhandar on Karve Road, where two persons were manning the shop,” said Kunjeer.
The woman then contacted the ‘vaidya’ over the phone and deal was struck. 10 packets for Rs 1.29 lakh were provided.
“Since, I did not have so much money with me, I asked him why the medicine is so exorbitant. The person told me that if the results were not satisfactory, my money would be returned back. I was told that I would get 80 per cent money back and was also assured that within two to three months, I would see the results of the medicine,” Kunjeer said.
“Since I did not have enough money, I offered him Rs 20,000 cash and told him that I would give him the remaining amount by cheque, which I did after a day or two,” he said.
Kunjeer then started consuming the medicine and also applied the powder on the affected parts of the body. “However, there was no sign of the patches lessening; instead the white patches started spreading to other parts of my body. Frustrated, I called up the vaidya on his mobile number, which was on the bill,” he said.
The person asked him to continue with the medication for the next fifteen days.
“After taking the medicine for next three months, the effect was adverse. I then went to the shop and received a rude shock when I realised that the shop was shut and the persons were absconding,” said Kunjeer. “I even tried to trace the two women, who had come to our house, but they too were untraceable and after realising that I have been duped, I approached the police station and lodged a complaint,” said Kunjeer.
Sub-inspector Bhushan Dayama from Deccan Gymkhana police station said that they have traced the accused Vaidya and another person, and they will soon be arrested. u00a0