Class 12 Student and Graduate Arrested for Fatal Illegal Caesarean Surgery in Uttar Pradesh
In a shocking case of medical negligence and quackery, the Ambedkar Nagar police on Friday arrested two individuals—a class 12 student and an Arts graduate—for allegedly performing a caesarean surgery at an unregistered private hospital, resulting in the death of a woman during childbirth. The incident has exposed a deeply troubling pattern of illegal medical practices in the region.
Details of the Arrest and Accused
The accused have been identified as Yogesh Verma, a 32-year-old BA graduate from Malipur, and Shubham Vishwakarma, a 19-year-old intermediate student from Sultanpur. According to police reports, the duo conducted surgeries at Navjeevan Hospital in Baskhari without possessing any recognized medical degrees or surgical qualifications. The hospital had been operating illegally for approximately five years, preying on vulnerable patients seeking affordable healthcare.
Tragic Outcome and Investigation
The victim, Priyanka, was admitted to the hospital on February 5 for delivery. Police stated that Verma and Vishwakarma performed a caesarean section, after which she gave birth to a baby girl. However, Priyanka allegedly suffered excessive bleeding and lost consciousness following anesthesia administration. As her condition worsened, she was referred to a facility in Lucknow but succumbed to her injuries en route.
This tragic incident sparked protests by the victim's family, prompting the hospital operator, Ruby, to flee the scene. She remains absconding, with police seizing mobile phones and intensifying efforts to locate her. Baskhari SHO Sunil Kumar Pandey, leading the investigation, revealed that the two so-called "doctors" were called in to conduct the surgery. "Yogesh Verma is only a graduate. His father worked as a ward boy at CHC Jalalpur, and he learned basic medical procedures while assisting him. He reportedly performed surgeries for several years," the SHO said.
Background of the Accused and Illegal Operations
Shubham Vishwakarma is associated with Bajrang Nursing Home in Belwai under the Akhandnagar police station limits of Sultanpur district. During interrogation, he admitted to gaining experience by observing procedures at a local hospital after completing his class 12 education. Both accused allegedly traveled on call to perform surgeries at Navjeevan Hospital, charging between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 per caesarean operation—a fraction of the cost charged by qualified surgeons, which attracted poor patients.
Following directives from the Chief Medical Officer, a joint inspection was conducted on the night of February 8 by the CHC superintendent, sub-divisional magistrate Tanda, and Baskhari police. Officials discovered that the hospital operated illegally from four rooms of a residential building, lacking:
- Any registration certificate
- Biomedical waste (BMW) authorisation
- Fire NOC
- Required medical staff as per norms
Dr. Ajay Kumar, CHC superintendent, noted, "No signboard displaying hospital registration details was found on the premises. Various medicines, surgical and medical equipment were recovered from the site. After preparing an inventory, authorities sealed all four rooms in the presence of the SDM and police."
Legal Actions and Ongoing Probe
An FIR was lodged on February 9 based on a complaint from the CHC superintendent under relevant sections for illegal hospital operation and medical negligence. Additionally, Priyanka's husband, Sandeep, filed another FIR under BNS 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). Police are actively investigating to identify other hospitals where the accused may have performed surgeries and to apprehend Ruby.
Authorities have ordered verification of all medical credentials linked to the hospital and issued warnings of strict action against illegal healthcare establishments in the district. This case underscores critical gaps in healthcare regulation and the dangers of unqualified practitioners exploiting systemic vulnerabilities.
