A 51-year-old Indian-origin doctor based in New Jersey, Ritesh Kalra, is facing serious federal charges in the United States for alleged involvement in medical fraud, illegal opioid distribution, and sexually exploiting patients in exchange for prescriptions.
Kalra, an internist from Secaucus, allegedly operated a &ldquo;pill mill&rdquo; from his Fair Lawn clinic, where he reportedly issued over 31,000 oxycodone prescriptions between January 2019 and February 2025&mdash;often writing more than 50 in a single day.
Authorities claim Kalra prescribed powerful opioids like oxycodone without legitimate medical justification, endangering patients battling addiction. Multiple former patients and clinic staff have accused him of demanding sexual favours&mdash;including oral and anal sex&mdash;during clinical visits in return for prescriptions.
In addition to the alleged sexual abuse and drug violations, Kalra is also accused of defrauding New Jersey Medicaid. He reportedly billed for in-person consultations that never occurred and submitted falsified electronic records, with identical progress notes and missing vital sign data across patients&rsquo; files.
Kalra&rsquo;s medical license has been suspended, and he has been ordered to shut down his clinic. During his first court appearance, he was placed under home incarceration and released on a $100,000 unsecured bond. He is prohibited from practising medicine or issuing prescriptions while legal proceedings are underway.
Investigators also uncovered that Kalra prescribed opioids to an incarcerated patient without conducting any in-person consultation.
If convicted, Kalra faces up to 20 years in prison for each drug-related charge and 10 years for each count of healthcare fraud. He also faces millions in fines.

Indian-Origin Doctor Charged in US Drug Fraud (Representative Image)

Doctor accused of running pill mill, abusing patients, and committing massive fraud

Indian-Origin Doctor Charged in US Drug Fraud

Doctor accused of running pill mill, abusing patients, and committing massive fraud

July 20, 2025 | 17:47 IST