New Delhi: In a major healthcare scandal, an MBBS graduate posing as a cardiologist allegedly performed more than 50 heart procedures at a government hospital in Faridabad over the course of eight months. The fraudulent doctor, identified as Pankaj Mohan Sharma, was employed by a private company running a heart care centre under a public-private partnership (PPP) model at Badshah Khan Civil Hospital.
Authorities said that Sharma misused the registration number of a well-known cardiologist, Dr Pankaj Mohan, to get this position. While he was only qualified as a general physician, he falsely claimed to hold a DNB in Cardiology — a post-graduate specialisation — and presented forged documents to appear legitimate.
Complications post-surgery
The scam came to light after several patients reported complications post-surgery, and Sharma abruptly stopped attending the hospital in February 2025, just days after being asked to produce his credentials. The concerned patients eventually traced the real Dr Pankaj Mohan, who clarified that he had no association with the hospital in question.
Following this, a formal complaint was filed by legal activist Sanjay Gupta, prompting an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Police discovered that Sharma had not only used fake credentials but also maintained a social media profile under the alias “Kshitiz Mohan”, raising further doubts about his background.
Heart centre was already under scrutiny
“The hospital management continued to employ an unqualified and fraudulent doctor who lacks any degree or recognised specialisation in cardiology. Dr Sharma falsely claimed qualifications of MD and DNB (cardiology), which are entirely fraudulent,” a TOI report quoted Gupta as saying.
Health department officials confirmed that the heart centre was already under scrutiny for irregularities and had officially been shut in February. However, during its final months, Sharma reportedly conducted over 50 operations, putting dozens of lives at risk.
Mediterina Hospital, which managed the centre, stated that Sharma had applied as a general physician and was later removed after doubts over his qualifications surfaced.
