A major security lapse has come to light at Chennai’s Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital after a man, pretending to be a doctor, duped a patient’s family and escaped with their gold jewelry triggering shock and concern.
Sundaravalli (55), a resident of Kolathur, Chennai, was admitted to the hospital due to health issues. She was being cared for by her daughter-in-law, Kanchana (30). During their stay, a man around 35 years old approached them, posing as a doctor. Kanchana, suffering from neck pain at the time, was engaged by the man who offered help and advice with convincing confidence.
Claiming the need for an X-ray, he accompanied Kanchana to the radiology section, stating that wearing jewelry could interfere with the scan. Trusting him, Kanchana handed over a bag containing seven sovereigns of gold jewelry. However, when she returned from the scan area, the man had disappeared.
On realizing she had been tricked, Kanchana enquired with hospital staff, who denied any knowledge of such a doctor being on duty. She then filed a formal complaint with the police stationed at the hospital. Authorities have since begun investigating the matter and are reviewing CCTV footage from Tower 3 and the seventh floor where the incident occurred.
What really happened?
According to reports, the imposter had been loitering around the hospital for a while, posing as a friendly and attentive doctor. On 4 June, he began interacting with patients and caregivers in the ward, offering advice and checking case sheets, thereby gaining their trust. He even took Kanchana’s family to the hospital canteen, where he was served tea by the staff after introducing himself as a doctor.
Later in the day, he dined in the hospital’s AC room, further cementing his disguise as a medical professional. At around 10 PM, he reviewed Sundaravalli’s case file and told the family that she was scheduled for surgery the next day, asking them to be prepared.
When Kanchana complained of a headache, he offered to arrange a scan the next morning. On 5 June at 6:30 AM, he again instructed her to remove all gold jewelry before the scan and asked her to place them in a bag, along with a mobile phone. He then told them he would keep it safe in his room. That was the last they saw of him.
The police have seized surveillance footage, which shows the suspect wearing a face shield and walking around the hospital. It is also reported that he collected email addresses from patients, promising to assist with insurance claims, furthering the impression of being a legitimate doctor.
A case has been registered, and efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the conman. The incident has raised serious questions about hospital security, especially at one of Tamil Nadu’s largest and busiest government hospitals.
சென்னை GH -ல் போலி டாக்டர்.. அதிரவைத்த திருட்டு சம்பவம்.. திணறும் போலீஸ்..!#Chennai | #RajivGandhiGovtHospital | #FakeDoctor | #JewelTheft | #Patient | #PolimerNews pic.twitter.com/golmw9TAMr
— Polimer News (@polimernews) June 14, 2025
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