Quack surrenders after SC rejects bail plea

Andheri-based self proclaimed Ayurveda scientist Munir Khan, accused of cheating and forgery, surrendered before the Versova police on Monday morning.

Andheri-based self proclaimed Ayurveda scientist Munir Khan, accused of cheating and forgery, surrendered before the Versova police on Monday morning.

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Khan (60) surrendered after the Supreme Court rejected his special leave petition on Monday. He had earlier applied for bail before the sessions court and the high court, and was rejected in both cases.

Khan came to the police station around 8.30 am and met police inspector Kalpana Gadekar, the investigating officer, accompanied by his sons, Sarosh (29) and Munish (25) and two advocates.

Khan, booked for forgery and cheating under the Drug and Magic Remedies Act and under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), was arrested at 11.30 am. Produced before the Andheri metropolitan magistrate at around 1.50 pm, Khan stood expressionless, accompanied by two constables.

Pointing out that there are 185 complaints against him, the prosecution asked for his custody to investigate where he produced the medicine, Body Revive and where he got the license to do it.

Defence advocate Nagesh Joshi said the police had been investigating since a year. “Even while the anticipatory bail application was pending, police called upon him to produce certain documents even though he had been cooperative.”

The court remanded the accused to police custody until May 17.

Investigations revealed that Khan had cheated people from across the world by forging a medical certificate for his drug. “Khan has a certificate dated 2006, from the Central Drug and Research Institute, Rajasthan, which turned out to be fake,” said police inspector Kalpana Gadekar of the Versova police station, adding that Khan had been misusing the certificate to get government clearances and permits.

Khan told police he has a BA in Economics from an Oxford College at Kota, Rajasthan. “We found no such college exists and that Khan is a Class 6 failure. He could not produce any certificates to support his qualification status,” she added.

Police said Khan used false credentials and documents to get his passport (issued in November 2008) and other documents concerning his practice. “We are now focusing on the preparation and distribution of the drug,” Gadekar added.