Mau: Police in eastern Uttar Pradesh have busted a major medical equipment robbery, alleging that a homeopathic doctor masterminded the theft of four dialysis machines from a private hospital, with plans to sell them in neighbouring Ghazipur. Officials said two accused were arrested within 48 hours of the crime, while at least five other suspects remain absconding.
The incident took place late Thursday night at a private hospital located in Haqeeqatpura, under the Dakshintola police station area. According to investigators, the accused held a hospital health worker hostage before fleeing with four dialysis machines, each estimated to be worth several lakh rupees, raising concerns of both financial loss and disruption to patient care.
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Police officials said the case was cracked following a credible tip-off indicating that the stolen machines were being transported in a pickup vehicle to Ghazipur for resale. Acting on the intelligence, two police teams set up a strategic barricade near the Matloobpur overbridge late Saturday night.
During the operation, a pickup vehicle approaching from the Mohammadabad Gohna side was seen attempting to enter the service road leading towards Ghazipur. When signalled to stop, the driver allegedly tried to reverse and flee. However, due to limited space, the vehicle got stuck and was quickly surrounded and intercepted by police teams.
A search of the pickup vehicle led to the recovery of all four stolen dialysis machines, confirming the intelligence input. The two occupants of the vehicle were detained on the spot and later placed under arrest.
The arrested accused were identified as Dr Amarnath Dixit, a resident of Gomtinagar in Lucknow, and Rajkumar, also from the Gomtinagar area. Police said Dr Dixit, a homeopathic practitioner, was the principal conspirator who planned and coordinated the robbery.
During interrogation, Dr Dixit allegedly disclosed that he was facing serious financial distress, having taken loans from multiple sources. Investigators said he was associated with the management of several hospitals in Lucknow and was under mounting debt pressure, which allegedly prompted him to plan the theft.
Police said the conspiracy took shape after Dr Dixit came in contact with a technician named Vishesh Yadav, who had previously carried out repairs on dialysis machines at the Mau hospital. This gave the accused detailed knowledge of the hospital’s layout, security arrangements and machine placement, making the execution of the crime easier.
Investigators said the accused conducted reconnaissance before the crime and later arrived at the hospital posing as dialysis patients late at night. Once inside, they allegedly overpowered and confined a health worker, loaded the dialysis machines into a pickup vehicle and fled towards Lucknow.
However, police said the group abandoned plans to sell the machines in Lucknow due to fear of being traced and arrested in the state capital. Instead, they decided to dispose of the machines in eastern Uttar Pradesh, where they believed scrutiny would be lower.
The machines were being transported to Ghazipur when the pickup vehicle was intercepted during the late-night police operation.
According to investigators, at least seven individuals were involved in the conspiracy. Apart from the two arrested, the names that surfaced during questioning include Sumit Gautam, Vishesh Yadav, Ansh, Pandit and Babua. Multiple teams are conducting raids at suspected locations to trace the remaining accused.
Officials said the recovery of the dialysis machines was critical, as such equipment is not only expensive but also lifesaving for patients suffering from chronic kidney disease. “The timely recovery has prevented major losses to the hospital and ensured that patient services are not disrupted for an extended period,” an officer said.
The two arrested accused have been booked under sections related to robbery, criminal conspiracy, wrongful confinement and theft, and have been produced before a court. Police said further investigation is underway to determine whether the gang was involved in similar thefts in other districts.
Police officials said the case highlights a growing trend of medical equipment theft, driven by the high resale value of such machines and weak tracking mechanisms. Hospitals have been advised to strengthen night security, closely monitor staff access, and install additional surveillance systems to prevent similar incidents in the future.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
