New Jersey doctor charged for issuing thousands of opioid prescriptions in exchange for sexual favors.
A physician based in New Jersey has been charged with serious criminal offenses, including the unlawful distribution of opioids and health care fraud, according to federal prosecutors. Ritesh Kalra, a 51-year-old internist from Secaucus, is alleged to have operated a so-called “pill mill” from his medical office in Fair Lawn. Federal investigators contend that he prescribed substantial quantities of opioid medications without a legitimate medical purpose, allegedly in exchange for sexual favors from patients.
Court documents reveal that Kalra wrote more than 31,000 prescriptions for oxycodone—one of the most potent opioid pain relievers—between January 2019 and February 2025. Reports indicate that on certain days, he issued over 50 prescriptions, a practice that raises significant concerns regarding medical ethics and patient safety. The described medications included promethazine with codeine and oxycodone, which are associated with a pronounced risk of addiction and abuse.
Allegations against Kalra are disturbing. Several of his former employees reported that female patients confided they had experienced inappropriate touching and were coerced into sexual relations to obtain the prescriptions. One patient detailed instances of sexual assault that allegedly occurred during medical appointments, raising serious questions about the integrity of medical practice in Kalra’s clinic.
Federal authorities assert that instead of assisting individuals battling addiction, Kalra exploited vulnerable patients by using their dependence on opioids as a form of leverage. This manipulation potentially exacerbated the ongoing opioid crisis, which has devastated communities across the United States and resulted in numerous overdose deaths.
Kalra is also accused of defrauding Medicaid by billing for fictitious in-person appointments and counseling sessions. Investigators suggest that his electronic medical records contained fraudulent progress notes and exam records, many of which were reportedly indistinguishable from one another and failed to document essential health metrics.
On July 19, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced that Kalra had been charged with three counts of dispensing opioids for illegitimate reasons and two counts of healthcare fraud. After appearing in federal court in Newark, he was released under home incarceration on a 0,000 unsecured bond and has been prohibited from practicing medicine during the ongoing proceedings.
Kalra’s attorney characterized the charges as unfounded and sensationalist, claiming they serve more as a media spectacle than a reflection of reality. The case remains under investigation, with further developments expected as it moves through the judicial system.
This situation highlights the critical importance of monitoring medical practices to prevent abuse and protect patient’s health and well-being in an increasingly complicated opioid landscape.
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