A New Jersey-based physician of Indian origin is at the centre of a serious medical and sexual misconduct case, accused of exploiting vulnerable patients battling addiction in exchange for opioid prescriptions. Authorities have alleged that 51-year-old Ritesh Kalra not only illegally dispensed tens of thousands of oxycodone prescriptions without valid medical justification but also demanded sexual favours from female patients in return.
Kalra, a resident of Secaucus, was placed under home detention by a US magistrate court following a hearing over the federal charges levelled against him. He is also accused of defrauding the public healthcare system by billing Medicaid for ghost consultations.
According to court documents, between January 2019 and February 2025, Kalra issued over 31,000 prescriptions for oxycodone, a powerful and highly addictive opioid painkiller, without medical necessity. Prosecutors allege that the prescriptions were often written for patients with no examinations or follow-ups.
Disturbing details from the hearings suggest that Kalra coerced women into performing sexual acts, including oral and anal sex, during appointments. One female patient alleged she was forced into non-consensual sex during a scheduled consultation. Another said she received prescriptions from Kalra even while she was incarcerated and had no direct contact with him.
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Attorney Alina Habba, commenting on the findings, said, “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.”
“By allegedly exchanging prescriptions for sexual favors and billing Medicaid for ghost appointments, he not only violated the law but endangered lives,” she added.
Kalra’s medical licence has been suspended with immediate effect. The court has prohibited him from practising medicine or prescribing medication. He was released under a $100,000 unsecured bond and ordered to remain under home confinement. His medical clinic has also been ordered shut pending further investigation.
The allegations have sparked outrage within the local medical fraternity and patient rights groups, with calls for stricter oversight of opioid prescription practices and medical conduct.
The case, currently under federal investigation, is expected to be closely watched as it unfolds, given the scope of the alleged violations and their potential impact on public trust in the healthcare system.
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