Doctors Forge Autopsies for Snakebite Payouts

A doctor from Nagpur, identified as Priyanka Soni, has been apprehended by Bilaspur police in Chhattisgarh for her alleged involvement in a scheme to forge autopsy reports. The purpose of these forgeries was to illegally claim state compensation, specifically the Rs 4 lakh offered for snakebite fatalities. Soni is one of 17 individuals arrested in connection with the operation, which is believed to have run from 2019 to 2024.

Investigators revealed that the suspects manipulated inquest cases involving deaths from natural causes or suicide to create fraudulent documentation. Fake seals and signatures of various officials, including police and doctors, were employed to lend authenticity to the forged reports. This allowed the group to secure financial aid, which was then distributed amongst themselves after being credited to beneficiaries' accounts.

The scheme came to light after an MLA raised the issue in the Vidhan Sabha, prompting an investigation. The police have registered sixteen FIRs and are scrutinizing more doctors for their potential roles in this elaborate fraud. Soni, who completed her MBBS in Ukraine, allegedly assisted in preparing fake post-mortem reports and failed to collect crucial skin samples for forensic examination.