Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh – The investigation into the deaths of two engineers following hair transplant surgeries has taken a new turn, with police now scrutinizing not only Dr. Anushka Tiwari, the primary accused, but also her husband, Dr. Saurabh Tripathi. Both are dentists and allegedly performed the procedures together with untrained staff at their private clinic in Kanpur.
The couple has been on the run since the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against Dr. Tiwari, who is facing charges of culpable homicide. The case stems from the deaths of Vineet Dubey, an assistant engineer at Panki Power Plant, and Mayank Katiyar, a software engineer, who died within 48 to 72 hours after undergoing hair transplant surgery at the Empire Skin and Hair Clinic.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kalyanpur, Abhishek Pandey confirmed that three police teams are conducting raids to locate and arrest Dr. Tiwari. He also revealed that Dr. Tripathi’s role is now under formal investigation. “We are considering adding additional sections to the FIR pending the outcome of the inquiry,” said Pandey. “We have also sought legal and medical opinions regarding the ethics and legality of dentists conducting such surgical procedures.”
Cause of Death Under Examination
Following Vineet Dubey’s death on March 15, a post-mortem was conducted, and viscera samples were preserved for toxicological analysis. The Chief Medical Officer of Kanpur, Dr. Hari Dutt Negi, stated that the viscera examination has been expedited and a report is expected soon.
Dubey’s wife, Jaya, who had earlier filed the complaint leading to the investigation, has alleged deliberate delays by the authorities. “The police took 56 days to register the FIR, and now they’re stalling the investigation. I’ve submitted recordings that clearly prove Dr. Tiwari was directly involved in the procedure,” she said.
Reacting to reports that Dr. Tiwari has approached the Allahabad High Court for anticipatory relief, Jaya voiced concern that the delay is enabling the accused to evade justice.
Credentials Under Scrutiny
The police have also written to medical colleges in Faridabad and Kanpur to verify the academic credentials and certifications of both Dr. Tiwari and Dr. Tripathi. Preliminary reports suggest that neither hold qualifications required to perform hair transplant surgery, a procedure typically reserved for licensed dermatologists or plastic surgeons.
While widely considered a low-risk cosmetic intervention, hair transplant surgery involves significant medical oversight. Poor surgical hygiene or unqualified execution can lead to severe complications, including infections that delay hair transplant recovery or, in rare cases, prove fatal—as seen in these two tragic incidents.
The investigation continues amid rising calls for stricter regulation and enforcement within the rapidly growing cosmetic surgery sector in India.
Related topics:
- How Much Does Hair Transplant Cost in India?
- What is Hair Transplant in Hindi?
- Hair Transplant Turns Fatal for Two Engineers in Kanpur, Clinic Under Scrutiny
