Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Just call him the Frank Abagnale of India…
According to Hindustan Times, a 19-year-old has been arrested for impersonating an AIIMS doctor for the past five months. Adnan Khurram was able to use his fake identity to make pals across departments and among medical students. Hell, Khurram even went as far as to participate in events meant for doctors. And that includes strikes to marathons.
“He would roam around wearing the lab coat and stethoscope all the time, RDA president Harjit Singh said. “We found out that he had made different claims to different doctors. To some, he would claim that he was a junior resident doctor while to junior resident doctors, he would introduce himself as an undergraduate medical student. He had even made his way to the WhatsApp groups.”
Hindustan Times
When police arrested Khurram, they were surprised by his “knowledge’ of medicines, the names of doctors and department heads at AIIMS.”
Police said it is still not clear why Khurram posed as a doctor as he has been frequently changing his statements. One of the reasons he had given for his crime was that had to help an ailing family member get preferential treatment. He also said that he posed as a doctor because he liked to spend time with doctors, a profession he wanted to take up himself.
Khurram was only caught after doctors became suspicious during a marathon organized by doctors. It was at this point that he was overpowered and police were reached out to. Khurram, who didn’t have a criminal record, was charged under sections 419 (impersonation) and 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) of the Indian Penal Code.
Whoops: Man Declared Dead Wakes Up Just Before Doctor Cuts Him Open
Well, if his reason(s) for pretending to be a doctor are legit, then you can’t really blame this guy too much. He took time out of his everyday life to hang out with doctors and learn from them. Which is more than you can say for a lot of 19-year-olds who prefer butt-chugging beer.