A 40-year-old quack was arrested on Thursday for prescribing and treating patients at his dispensary clinic in Devikapuram village near Arani town in Tiruvannamalai.
Health officials said the arrested quack was identified as S. Venkatesan, a native of Arani town. He completed a diploma course in homeopathy.
For almost ten years, he offered medical care to patients in the village without any professional qualifications. He converted his rented house into a clinic and pharmacy for patients in a remote village. Every day, an average of 40-60 patients wait outside his pharmacy for treatment.
The health workers were suspicious of his activities. A special medical team carried out a surprise inspection at the house after paramedics received complaints from residents. The medical team also included a doctor, a pharmacist and a drug inspector.
During the searches, health workers found a lot of used medical equipment, prescriptions and letterhead at the clinic. They also found used syringes, capsules and other medical equipment inside the clinic.
The clinic and pharmacy were sealed. The team also seized medical equipment, including a blood pressure monitor, stethoscope and syringes. A case has been registered by the Chetpet police. He was later placed in a secondary jail in the city. A probe is underway.
Published – 31 Oct 2025 00:06 IST
