Bengal fake doctor arrested at Delhi Airport in 4-year-old's death
Synopsis
A man accused of performing surgery on a four-year-old without valid medical qualifications — and then fleeing to Dubai after the child died — has been caught at Delhi Airport. The arrest by Bengal police exposes dangerous regulatory gaps in private healthcare facilities in East Burdwan, with a hospital body now pressing for the arrest of at least five more suspected fake doctors in the area.
Key Takeaways
Sheikh Saidul Haque was arrested at Delhi's IGI Airport on Tuesday night, 7 October 2026 , on a lookout notice issued by West Bengal Police .
He is accused of performing surgery on a four-year-old child in Nawabhat, East Burdwan , without verified medical qualifications; the child died shortly after.
Haque had reportedly fled to Dubai during the investigation before returning to India.
He was transported to Kolkata airport by 1:30 am Wednesday and taken to Burdwan police station for questioning.
The Association of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes has called for the arrest of at least five more alleged fake doctors, including one identified as Zulfiqar .
A man accused of impersonating a physician and allegedly causing the death of a four-year-old child through a botched surgical procedure has been arrested at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, West Bengal Police confirmed on Wednesday, 7 October 2026. The accused, identified as Sheikh Saidul Haque, had allegedly performed an operation on the child at a hospital in the Nawabhat area of East Burdwan district in West Bengal, after which the child died.
How the Arrest Unfolded
According to police, Sheikh Saidul Haque fled to Dubai shortly after the child's death, evading investigators for several days. Based on a complaint filed by the child's family, Bengal police issued a lookout notice against him. Delhi Police detained him late Tuesday night as he arrived at the airport from Dubai, acting on that notice.
After initial questioning and the completion of legal formalities, the Burdwan police transported Haque to Kolkata by flight, landing at Kolkata airport at 1:30 am on Wednesday. He was subsequently taken to the Burdwan police station for further interrogation.
Questions Over Qualifications
The investigation has reportedly cast serious doubt on Sheikh Saidul Haque's medical credentials. Police said the probe into his qualifications revealed multiple discrepancies, and several other allegations have been levelled against him beyond the child's death. Investigators are now scrutinising whether he held a valid medical licence to practise and perform surgery.
A senior police officer confirmed: 'He left the country for Dubai during the investigation. A lookout notice was issued against him. He was arrested at the Delhi airport based on that notice.'
Hospital Body Welcomes Arrest, Eyes More Suspects
The Association of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes publicly welcomed the arrest. A representative of the body told local reporters: 'We are hopeful that following Saidul's arrest, the fake doctor Zulfiqar and four others identified by us will also be arrested soon. We have full faith in the police.'
The statement signals that authorities may be pursuing a wider network of individuals allegedly posing as medical professionals in the region — raising broader questions about the oversight of private nursing homes and small hospitals in East Burdwan.
Wider Context: Fake Doctors in West Bengal
This case adds to a growing catalogue of incidents involving unqualified individuals practising medicine in rural and semi-urban parts of West Bengal. Regulatory gaps in smaller private facilities have long been flagged by medical associations, though enforcement has remained inconsistent. The child's death has renewed calls for mandatory credential verification at all registered healthcare establishments.
Investigations are ongoing, and further arrests are expected as police close in on the other suspects named by the hospital association.
Point of View
But it also exposes a structural failure: a person of unverified qualifications allegedly performed surgery on a child in a registered hospital, and the system did not catch it until after a death and an international flight. The hospital association's disclosure that five more alleged fake practitioners remain at large in the same district raises an uncomfortable question — how many such individuals are currently operating across West Bengal's sprawling network of small private nursing homes? Credential verification in rural private healthcare remains voluntary in practice, despite formal mandates. Until enforcement matches regulation, each arrest will be reactive rather than preventive.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sheikh Saidul Haque and what is he accused of?
Sheikh Saidul Haque is a man accused of impersonating a doctor and performing surgery on a four-year-old child at a hospital in Nawabhat, East Burdwan, West Bengal. The child died shortly after the procedure, and police say his medical qualifications are under serious scrutiny.
How was Sheikh Saidul Haque caught?
After the child's death, Haque fled to Dubai. West Bengal Police issued a lookout notice, and Delhi Police arrested him at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday night when he returned to India. Burdwan police then flew him to Kolkata, arriving at 1:30 am on Wednesday.
What happens next in the investigation?
Haque is being questioned at Burdwan police station. The Association of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes has urged police to arrest at least five more alleged fake doctors in the region, including one identified as Zulfiqar. Further arrests are expected.
Why does this case matter beyond one incident?
The case highlights a wider problem of unqualified individuals allegedly practising medicine in private nursing homes across rural West Bengal. The hospital association's disclosure of multiple other suspects suggests this is not an isolated incident, renewing calls for stricter credential checks at private healthcare facilities.
What role did the hospital association play?
The Association of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes thanked police for the arrest and publicly identified Zulfiqar and four others as alleged fake doctors, pressing authorities to pursue them. The body said it has full faith in police to make further arrests.
