Indian-origin doctor's clinic raided by FBI

An Indian-origin doctor's weight- loss clinics here have been raided by sleuths from FBI and other agencies as part of a "multi-jurisdictional investigation" launched by the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA)

Agents from the FDA, FBI and Internal Revenue Service combed through files at Rakesh Ray Anand's offices last week.

The raids, which were part of a "multi-jurisdictional investigation" by the FDA, happened at three of Anand's offices and the clinics remained closed during the weekend.

Anand, a licensed physician, indicated on the clinics' answering machines that the offices were temporarily closed until further notice. Reacting to the raids, Anand told the Chicago Sun Times "there was nothing unusual" going on.

"They (investigators) needed some files and they took them." Special agent in-charge of the FDA's Chicago field office of criminal investigations Dan Henson said he could not give further details on the ongoing investigation.

Henson said the US attorney's office in Hammond, Indiana is directing the investigation.