Physician Faces Charges for Medical Fraud and Sexual Assault

News Summary

Dr. Ritesh Kalra, a physician in New Jersey, is accused of serious crimes including medical fraud and sexual assault. He allegedly operated a ‘pill mill’, prescribing opioids without justification and soliciting sexual favors from patients. Under home arrest, Kalra’s medical practice remains closed as legal proceedings commence. The case raises concerns about medical ethics and the exploitation of vulnerable patients within healthcare systems.

Fair Lawn, New Jersey – Dr. Ritesh Kalra, a 51-year-old physician of Indian origin, faces serious criminal charges in New Jersey, including medical fraud, sexual assault, and prescription misconduct. Kalra has been accused of distributing opioids without a legitimate medical purpose, soliciting sexual favors from female patients in exchange for opioid prescriptions, and defrauding the state’s Medicaid system by submitting fraudulent bills for non-existent medical visits.

Kalra is currently under home arrest and has been ordered to cease practicing medicine and prescribing any medications. His medical practice will remain closed while legal proceedings are underway. According to investigations, he allegedly operated what is referred to as a “pill mill” from his clinic in Fair Lawn, frequently prescribing high doses of opioids such as oxycodone and promethazine with codeine without medically justifiable reasons.

Between January 2019 and February 2025, Kalra reportedly issued over 31,000 prescriptions for oxycodone, with records showing instances of him writing more than 50 prescriptions in a single day. Court documents indicate that Kalra’s electronic patient records contained fabricated progress notes that appeared across different patient files and lacked essential medical details, raising further suspicions regarding his medical practices.

Reports from former employees at Kalra’s clinic reveal that numerous female patients expressed concerns about inappropriate touching and requests for sexual favors, including instances where patients claimed they were coerced into sexual acts during medical appointments. One patient accused Kalra of multiple incidents of sexual assault, including being forced into anal sex, contributing to the severity of the allegations against him.

In addition to the assault accusations, Kalra is also charged with continuing to write prescriptions for an incarcerated patient at Essex County Correctional Facility without any actual medical contact with that patient, infringing on medical ethics and legal regulations.

U.S. Attorney Alina Habba emphasized the serious implications of the charges, highlighting how Kalra’s actions undermined the medical profession’s integrity and endangered patient lives by combining unethical practices with fraudulent behaviors aimed at financial gain.

If found guilty of the charges against him, Kalra could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for each count related to illegal drug distribution, in addition to facing up to 10 years for each healthcare fraud charge. His potential fines could reach up to $1 million for each drug distribution charge and $250,000 or more for each fraud-related offense.

The legal actions taken against Kalra underscore the ongoing efforts to prevent medical malpractice and protect vulnerable patients who may be at risk for exploitation within healthcare systems. The case has raised significant concern regarding the ethical responsibilities of healthcare providers and the crucial need for vigilance in monitoring prescription practices to deter similar incidents in the future.

As the case develops, it will serve as a pivotal example regarding the consequences of misusing a medical license, reinforcing the vital importance of trust and ethics in the healthcare profession.

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Additional Resources

• NDTV
• Wikipedia: Medical Fraud
• Hindustan Times
• Google Search: Ritesh Kalra medical fraud
• Times of India
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Sexual Assault
• DNA India
• Google News: Ritesh Kalra New Jersey