In April 2025, authorities in Madhya Pradesh state in India arrested Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav, a man who masqueraded as Dr. N John Camm, a prominent British cardiologist, for nearly 12 years. Under this false identity, Yadav performed dozens of complex heart surgeries at Mission Hospital in Damoh, Madhya Pradesh, surgeries that resulted in the deaths of at least seven patients. What followed was one of the most alarming medical fraud cases in India’s recent history.
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Who is Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav?
Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav is a 53-year-old fraudster who impersonated Dr. N John Camm, a renowned British cardiologist affiliated with St George’s University and the Royal College of Physicians, London. Yadav forged medical degrees, registration certificates, and identity documents to convince hospitals and patients that he was a legitimate doctor.
He ran a sophisticated forgery operation from his home in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, creating fake degrees, Aadhaar cards, and medical registration certificates. His fake credentials included purported qualifications from Indian, German, and UK medical councils, none of which actually listed him as a registered doctor. The registration numbers he provided often belonged to other doctors, indicating deliberate forgery.
Moreover, Yadav adopted the alias “Dr. Narendra John Camm” and created fake academic identities, publishing plagiarised medical research and even applying for prestigious Indian awards in a bid to erect a false professional image.
The crime and its consequences
Yadav worked at Mission Hospital in Damoh district, Madhya Pradesh, under this fake identity. Over 42 days, he performed nearly 64 cardiac interventional procedures, including 45 angioplasties. Within this short span, seven patients died during or immediately after surgery, with five deaths occurring on the same day as their operations.
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Hospital authorities became suspicious due to the unusually high mortality rate, prompting a police investigation. The probe confirmed Yadav had no valid medical registration and was not licensed to practice as a cardiologist. Additionally, the hospital failed to verify his claimed credentials before employing him, underlining serious procedural negligence
The deaths triggered outrage and grief among patients’ families and led to the suspension of Mission Hospital’s operating license while investigations continue.
Wider impact and history
Yadav’s criminal activities are not limited to Madhya Pradesh. Investigations suggest he operated in several Indian states, including Hyderabad, Delhi, and Jabalpur. Disturbingly, a First Information Report (FIR) was also registered in Chhattisgarh for his alleged involvement in the fatal surgery of former state Assembly Speaker Rajendra Prasad Shukla in 2006.
The Royal College of Physicians and St George’s Hospital, London, have officially denied any association with Yadav, confirming he never trained or registered with them. This disclosure dismantled his claim of holding MRCP (Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians) certification from the UK.
Legal status and ongoing investigation
Yadav was arrested from his apartment in Prayagraj on April 7, 2025, after which police recovered his forgery equipment, fake documents, and evidence of complex criminal activity including identity fabrication and theft of hospital equipment.
He currently faces multiple criminal charges including forgery, cheating, criminal breach of trust, and culpable homicide for the deaths caused by his unauthorized surgeries. Madhya Pradesh police and other authorities are investigating the extent of his operations and accomplices, including hospital staff who might have facilitated his employment without proper verification.
