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Ranjit Mahanti

THE diet plans for ‘Miss Universe’ Lara Dutta, ‘Miss World’ Priyanka Chopra, ‘Miss India’ Gul Panag, Neha Dhupia and many other celebrities have been designed by a fake doctor. This pseudo is also into creating health awareness for the Mumbai police.

The person in question is none other than Anjali Mukerjee, celebrity nutritionist, columnist and author.

A Right To Information (RTI) reply revealed that Anjali Mukerjee cheated more than five lakh customers, mainly Bollywood celebrities and top bureaucrats, by posing as a doctor. On February 27, 2017, Dr Ved Tiwari complained to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) demanding an inquiry over her claims.

According to the complaint (copy with ABI), Anjali claims she cures obesity, digestive disorder, high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, menopausal complaints, chronic fatigue and low immunity using the Ayurvedic system. She also claims she has a degree and calls it MD (Alternative Medicines).

On a complaint by Tiwari, FDA officers raided Anjali Mukerjee Health Total ‘Clinic’ in Thane. Officers were informed that Anjali never visits the clinic. She has appointed BAMS and BHMS doctors in the clinic and they attend to the patient on behalf of her. On April 28, 2017, Anjali appeared before FDA officers. She said (FDA report copy with ABI) that:

1- She is not practicing as a doctor.

2- She runs her business only as a dietician and nutritionist.

3- She has a degree from Indian Council of Alternative Medicines, Kolkata, (Doctor of Medicines and Alternative Systems Registration No- 18701 and Alternative Systems of Medicines Registration No- 47073). She even produced the degree certificates. BUT BOTH DEGREES ARE NOT RECOGNISED BY ANY MEDICAL COUNCIL IN MAHARASHTRA AND DO NOT MAKE ANYBODY A REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONER.

As per Maharashtra government GR issued on August 19, 2000 (copy available with ABI) none can practice without obtaining registration in Maharashtra Medical Council, Maharashtra Dental Council, Council Of Indian Medicine and Maharashtra Homeopathic Council. GR further says if doctor found guilty under sections 33 (2) for practicing without registration in aforesaid councils it is punishable offence amounting to rigorous imprisonment of 1 to 3 years and cash penalty of Rs 1,000 to 5,000.

Anjali also accepted that she sends emails to the patients posing as a doctor to advertise her Health Total Pvt Ltd business. She also accepted to FDA officers that DOCTOR title was wrongly put in front of her name. Anjali later removed the DOCTOR word from her website.

On June 22, 2017, the FDA wrote a letter (copy with ABI) to the Brihannmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) suggesting action should be taken against Anjali Mukerjee and it should be informed about the action taken.

About Anjali Mukerjee in short

Anjali shot to fame in 1996 when she became an “Official Nutritionist” for the Femina Miss India contest. She consulted the contestants consecutively for eight years. The food plans of ‘Miss Universe’ Lara Dutta, ‘Miss World’ Priyanka Chopra, ‘Miss India’ Gul Panag, Neha Dhupia and many others were designed by her.

Anjali has delivered talks for the Mumbai traffic police to help the force stay healthy and fit.

She is the proprietor of Health Total, a chain of “Health Clinics” having 60 centres across India, including Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, Indore and Nashik. Anjali cheated more than five lakh customers across the country posing as a DOCTOR through these centres.