A farmer has sought action against a doctor for forcing him not only to pledge his property to meet the fee for treating his daughter for a heart ailment but also demanded usurious interest (kandhu vatti) after getting him sign a promissory note.
In his complaint submitted to Superintendent of Police A. Saravanan here on Friday, farmer Subburaj of K. Ammapatti village said that he took his daughter S. Shanmuga Sundari to doctor Krishnan of Muskanampatti village in Thuvarankurichi for a heart ailment. The doctor informed him that the cost of treatment would be around Rs. 1.5 lakh. The farmer paid Rs. 50,000 and pledged his property as collateral for the balance fee of Rs. 1 lakh.
When the health condition of his daughter did not improve even after the treatment, again he approached the doctor who demanded Rs. 50,000 more to continue the treatment. But the doctor agreed to bear the additional medical bill and advised him to sign a promissory note for it. When even after the second round of treatment, his daughter’s health condition did not improve much, the farmer discontinued the treatment.
Meanwhile, the doctor and his wife Palaniammal came to his house recently demanding immediate settlement of the entire medical expenses along with interest ampunting to Rs. 5 lakh. When he expressed his inability to settle the dues, the doctor kept his wife and daughter inside the farmer’s house and locked it from outside, Subburaj said.
Acting on the complaint lodged by Mr. Subburaj, Vadamadurai police opened the house and rescued his wife and daughter.
Mr. Subburaj appealed to the Superintendent of Police to take stern action against the doctor who “demanded ‘kandhu vatti’ and threatened to murder” him.
Mr. Savaranan assured to take action and sent a copy of complaint to Vadamadurai police for swift action.
