Indian-Origin Doctor Accused Of Trading Prescriptions For Sex In New Jersey

<p>New York, Jul 20 (PTI) An Indian-origin doctor in New Jersey has been charged with distributing drugs without a legitimate medical purpose to his patients in exchange for sexual favours, according to a press release issued by the US Attorney’s Office.</p>
<p>Ritesh Kalra, 51, of Secaucus, allegedly operated a “pill mill out of his medical office, where he routinely prescribed high-dose opioids&mdash;including oxycodone&mdash;and promethazine with codeine to patients,” said the press release issued by the US Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey, on Friday.</p>
<p>”Physicians hold a position of profound responsibility&mdash;but as alleged, Dr Kalra used that position to fuel addiction, exploit vulnerable patients for sex, and defraud New Jersey&rsquo;s public healthcare programme, ” US Attorney Alina Habba said in the release.</p>
<p>Kalra is accused of issuing more than 31,000 prescriptions for oxycodone, including days when he wrote upwards of 50 prescriptions between January 2019 and February 2025.</p>
<p>Kalra, an internist in Fair Lawn, also allegedly billed for false in-person visits and counselling sessions, the release said.</p>
<p>He made his initial appearance on Thursday before a US Magistrate Judge in Newark federal court. He was released on home incarceration and an unsecured bond of USD 1,000,00, it added.</p>
<p>Kalra is required to shut down his medical practice while the case is pending.</p>
<p>His attorney, Michael Baldassar, denied the accusations and said that the government press release reads like a supermarket tabloid, the New York Daily News reported on Saturday.&nbsp;</p>
<p><em><strong>(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)</strong></em></p>