The Kandivli Ayush Doctors Association Mumbai (KADAM) had called for a half-day bandh of all clinics in the north region after five doctors were arrested by the Crime Branch on Saturday, for allegedly running a clinic without a valid degree. The members have demanded that Mumbai Police retract the FIR against them and clarify the criteria of a bogus doctor, before making arrests based on the tip-offs by the informers.

According to the association, the doctors are certified by the Maharashtra Council of Homeopathy and had worked day and night during the pandemic. “We have established trust in the locality after years of practice. The police and the medical officer have no right to arrest us before checking our credentials, hampering our career and practice,” said Dr Abdul Salam Khan, a member of the association. Khan added, “If the government wants, then all of us registered doctors are ready to give a copy of our certificate to the concerned department, but we should not be humiliated in this way.”