31,000 fake prescriptions: Indian-origin doctor in New Jersey charged for trading drugs for sex
Dr. Ritesh Kalra, 51, of Secaucus, is accused of running what prosecutors describe as a "pill mill" from his Fair Lawn medical office.
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey, Kalra routinely issued high-dose prescriptions for opioids such as oxycodone, along with promethazine with codeine, both drugs commonly misused for their narcotic effects.
'Physicians hold a position of profound responsibility, but as alleged, Dr. Kalra used that position to fuel addiction, exploit vulnerable patients for sex, and defraud New Jersey's public healthcare program,' said U.S. Attorney Alina Habba in the press release.
Prosecutors allege that between January 2019 and February 2025, Kalra wrote more than 31,000 prescriptions for oxycodone, with some days seeing more than 50 prescriptions issued.
In addition, he is accused of billing public healthcare programs for fake in-person visits and counseling sessions that never occurred.
Kalra appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Newark on Thursday and was released on home incarceration with an unsecured bond of $100,000. As a condition of his release, he is barred from operating his medical practice while the case is ongoing.
(With inputs from PTI)
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The Hindu
23 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Six Indian badminton players barred from World University Games due to alleged administrative lapse
The Indian badminton squad that won the mixed team bronze medal at the ongoing World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, has been hit by a controversy over selection after six of the 12 chosen players were barred from participating due to an alleged administrative lapse. Twelve players were selected and sent to represent India, but only six were allowed to compete as officials failed to submit all names correctly during the managers' meeting on July 16. 'This is not just mismanagement – it's career sabotage. We demand answers, accountability, and that our voices be heard. We didn't lose a match – we lost our right to even participate,' wrote Alisha Khan, one of the players left out, on Instagram. 'This isn't just a mistake. It's career sabotage by AIU and our team officials. We demand justice.' According to sources, BV Rao and Ajit Mohan were the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) officials who attended the meeting. The AIU, which is the nodal body for university-level sports in the country, acknowledged the incident. 'We have been informed about this and the matter is being investigated,' AIU Secretary Dr. Pankaj Mittal told PTI while refusing to comment any further. According to a source, the issue was not just an error but stemmed from 'systematic irregularities' starting from the selection trials held at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar. 'During the managers' meeting, officials were given a letter listing all 12 players from India. It was their responsibility to read it carefully, check for missing or injured players, and confirm or adjust the names accordingly. However, they took it lightly,' the source said. 'The names of players who hadn't attended trials were there. They came here only to enjoy. In the meeting, they also made a basic mistake. They were supposed to declare which player would play singles, doubles, and mixed, but didn't process it properly.' Saneeth Dayanand, Sathish Kumar Karunakaran, Devika Sihag, Tasnim Mir, Varshini Viswanath Sri, and Vaishnavi Khadkekar were the six who competed in the mixed team event. India defeated Macau but lost to Hong Kong in the group stage, then beat the USA in the round of 16 and Malaysia in the quarterfinals before losing to Chinese Taipei in the semifinals. Rohan Kumar, Darshan Pujari, Aditi Bhatt, Abhinash Mohanty, Viraj Kuvale, and Alisha Khan were part of the 12-member squad but did not get to play. 'The team manager made the blunder. The officials didn't focus during the meeting, and after the trials they didn't follow the proper process. They just submitted six names, so the other six were not allowed by FISU,' the source said. 'I don't know whether to call it a technical error or sheer misfortune. Entries were mailed, confirmations received, the team travelled all the way, and yet in the manager's meeting they missed out names. I don't know how it is possible to overlook such a basic responsibility,' he added. He alleged that the players were again being misled with the promise of participation in individual events starting on Tuesday. 'Players have been misled throughout. Now that they couldn't stand on the podium, officials are giving them false hopes about participation and medals in the individual events. The players worked really hard and if they are robbed of their chance like this, it is unacceptable.' The selection trials were held in April at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar, with over 210 players, including top-tier national and international university athletes, participating. However, the source alleged that players who actually topped the trials were left out of the mixed team event despite being part of the squad. 'It is a historic achievement that our team won a bronze with just six players, but that certificate and medal will change their lives, not ours, when we were supposed to be there as a team. The frustrating thing is the officials don't even admit their mistakes or show any remorse,' said another player on condition of anonymity. 'The AIU can at least issue certificates acknowledging all 12 as team members to protect our career prospects and rights.' A player also alleged that officials goofed up the team jerseys, leading to a fine. 'They printed full names instead of surnames, and the jerseys didn't carry the country name properly. The team was fined 1,000 euros per match for incorrect jerseys. Only from the semifinals onwards did we get proper jerseys sent from India,' the player said. 'There wasn't even a proper coach. Players were sitting court-side coaching each other during matches.' Related Topics World University Games
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Indian Express
23 minutes ago
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Nimisha Priya's case shows formal diplomacy is not enough; we also need faith-based mediation
Written by Shameer Modongal On July 16, Indian nurse Nimisha Priya faced the threat of imminent execution in Yemen after being convicted for the murder of her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi. Though the threat has been averted for now, the execution might happen anytime. Given that India has no formal diplomatic ties with the Houthi-led administration in Yemen – they are in touch with 'friendly governments' — the Centre has informed the Supreme Court that it had made all possible efforts within its diplomatic reach. This case highlights a crucial limitation of traditional state diplomacy. When governments are unable to negotiate due to political or legal constraints, alternative approaches are required. In Nimisha Priya's case, the intervention of religious leadership — specifically Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad (Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar) — opened a new pathway. He initiated talks with the family of the victim through renowned Yemeni cleric Sheikh Umar bin Hafiz. It was critical since, under Islamic law, the family of the deceased holds the power to forgive the offender. Islamic law (Sharia) provides a unique mechanism for justice that prioritises the role of victims and their families. Specifically, in cases of murder or bodily harm, the system of Qisās (retributive justice) allows the victim's family to demand equal punishment, accept diyah (blood money), or forgive the offender entirely. This legal flexibility allows justice to be administered with a focus on healing and reconciliation. This contrasts with conventional criminal justice systems rooted in retributive justice. The conventional model views crime as a violation of state law, with the primary questions being: What law was broken? Who committed the crime? What punishment is deserved? Victims typically have no direct role in the legal process. In contrast, the Islamic system — particularly in Qisās cases — centres on restorative justice. It asks: Who has been hurt? What do they need? Who is responsible for addressing these needs? Victims, offenders, and their communities are recognised as central actors. This system encourages open dialogue, emotional expression, and healing, empowering those most directly affected by crime to participate in its resolution. Justice (‛adl) is a foundational goal in Islam, repeatedly emphasised in the Qur'an and Sunnah. It emphasises forgiveness, repentance (Tawbah), and moral reform. The Qur'an urges believers to forgive others even in moments of anger, and extols the value of kind speech and forgiveness over charity. Although retribution is a permitted option, forgiveness is regarded as morally superior and divinely rewarded. In the context of Nimisha Priya's case, the key to securing clemency lies in convincing the family of Mahdi to forgive. However, this is not merely a legal or financial matter. The trauma they experienced, the loss of a loved one, and the anger toward the offender are powerful emotional forces. Political or legal arguments alone are often inadequate to address such profound grief and pain. This is where religious and spiritual frameworks can offer meaningful support. In the Arab world, Sulha — a traditional, religiously infused form of mediation — has long been used to resolve conflicts, including those involving serious crimes like murder. Rooted in Islamic ethics and community traditions, Sulha emphasises restoring broken relationships, acknowledging harm, repentance by the offender, and forgiveness by the victim's family. Sulha is both ritualistic and spiritual. It provides a structured process where the offender shows genuine remorse and responsibility, while the victim's family is encouraged to forgive and move toward reconciliation. The process involves respected third parties, often religious scholars or elders, who are seen as morally trustworthy and neutral. Through prayer, religious counsel, and social rituals, Sulha fosters spiritual healing and social reintegration. In Nimisha Priya's case, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad reached out to Hafiz for mediation, who sent his students to engage directly with Talal's family, seeking to persuade them of the Islamic virtue and reward of forgiveness. Their effort represents a powerful example of faith-based diplomacy, where religious leaders act as moral intermediaries beyond the reach of formal diplomatic or legal institutions. Nimisha Priya's fate still lies in the hands of Talal's family. Whether they demand retributive justice or offer forgiveness — either with or without diyah — will determine her ultimate fate. Both paths are permissible under Islamic law. Yet, the success of future negotiations may largely depend on the continued involvement of religious actors and the use of spiritual language that emphasises mercy, healing, and divine reward. Trusted religious figures, such as Imams or Sufi leaders, serve as mediators, leveraging their moral authority and community respect to foster trust and resolution. In many parts of the Muslim world, especially in contexts of weak or fractured state institutions, religious leaders maintain high moral legitimacy and influence. Their transnational networks can also facilitate people-to-people diplomacy even when state-to-state diplomacy is blocked due to political tensions. This case illustrates the growing importance of spiritual diplomacy — the use of religious soft power to resolve conflicts, build bridges, and promote justice in emotionally and politically complex situations. The path to justice in Nimisha Priya's case does not run through courts or embassies alone. It runs through the hearts of those affected by the tragedy. Only through healing that reaches both the emotional and spiritual realms can reconciliation be achieved. The writer is visiting scholar in residence, American University, Washington DC, and the author of Islamic Perspectives of International Conflict Resolution (Routledge)
