Rajkot doctor installs hidden camera, blackmails colleague for ₹25 lakh

In a chilling breach of trust and privacy, a doctor in Rajkot has been booked for allegedly planting a hidden camera inside a clinic and using intimate footage to blackmail a colleague, with investigators recovering over 3,000 videos that point to a sustained pattern of surveillance and extortion.

The accused, identified as Dr Kamal Nandha, is alleged to have acted out of unrequited love for a female doctor. According to police, his actions escalated into a calculated operation involving secret recordings and monetary coercion.

The case, registered at the Rajkot Cyber Crime Police Station, reveals that the accused installed a spy camera inside a bulb holder in a delivery room at a clinic on Sadhu Vaswani Road. The device was designed to record whenever the light was switched on, storing footage on a memory card.

Investigators said the accused routinely replaced the memory card to retrieve recordings—a practice believed to have continued since 2023—allowing him to amass thousands of video clips capturing private moments of the complainant doctor and a female colleague.

Police further revealed that some of the footage was allegedly circulated among a network of local intermediaries and individuals posing as journalists. The material was then used to threaten the victim with public exposure unless a ransom of ₹25 lakh was paid.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Jagdish Bangarva confirmed that the accused, a BHMS degree holder, had legitimate access to the clinic, which enabled him to install and operate the device without immediate suspicion. “The camera was concealed in a bulb holder and recorded footage onto a memory card,” he said.

The blackmail attempt reportedly intensified over time, with repeated threats and harassment since 2024. While the accused allegedly demanded ₹25 lakh, police said around ₹50,000 had already been extorted from the victim.

In a widening probe, authorities have named 12 individuals in the case on charges including extortion, criminal conspiracy, intimidation, and violations under the Information Technology Act.

According to investigators, the motive stemmed from the accused’s one-sided romantic interest in a female doctor, who was reportedly in a relationship with the complainant. Unable to accept this, he allegedly used the illicit recordings as leverage.

Police have initiated action against others involved in circulating or exploiting the footage and are working to trace all accused persons, along with digital evidence linked to the videos.

The case has triggered serious concerns over privacy breaches and the misuse of surveillance technology in professional spaces. Officials have urged medical establishments to tighten internal security protocols as the investigation continues, with more arrests likely in the coming days.