Who Is Ritesh Kalra? Indian-Origin US Doctor Accused Of Issuing 31,000 Opioid Prescriptions For S*x

Dr. Ritesh Kalra, a 51-year-old Indian-origin internist based in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, is facing serious federal charges for allegedly operating a "pill mill" and sexually exploiting patients in exchange for prescriptions. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Kalra issued over 31,000 prescriptions for opioids like oxycodone between January 2019 and February 2025-sometimes up to 50 prescriptions a day.

Kalra is also accused of defrauding New Jersey's healthcare program by billing for medical visits and counseling sessions that never took place.

Accused of Sexual Misconduct and Prescription Abuse

According to the U.S. Attorney, Kalra routinely prescribed addictive opioids such as oxycodone and promethazine with codeine, both classified as high-risk substances. Several of his former employees have come forward, claiming that multiple female patients accused Kalra of sexually touching them and demanding sexual favours-including oral sex-in exchange for these prescriptions.

In one particularly disturbing account, a patient said Kalra sexually assaulted her during clinic visits, including an incident involving forced anal sex. Another case revealed that Kalra continued to write opioid prescriptions for a patient even while the patient was incarcerated at the Essex County Correctional Facility and had no direct contact with him.

Medical Background

Dr. Ritesh Kalra is a graduate of the Medical University of Silesia in Zabrze, Poland, and has practiced internal medicine and primary care for over two decades. He is listed on several online platforms such as Zocdoc and Doximity.

Legal Charges and Penalties

Kalra has been charged with a five-count complaint, including three counts of unauthorized distribution of controlled substances and two counts of healthcare fraud. The opioid distribution charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of up to $1 million. The healthcare fraud charges could result in up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Kalra appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in federal court in Newark and is currently out on house arrest, having posted an unsecured bond of $1 million. He has been ordered to shut down his medical practice while legal proceedings continue.

Kalra's attorney, Michael Baldassare, has denied all allegations, calling the government's press release "a supermarket tabloid," as reported by the New York Daily News.

Prior Legal Trouble

Court records from 2016 show that Kalra had previously failed to pay $12,000 in wages owed to a former employee, Amal Musallam, for a three-month period in 2013. The Superior Court of New Jersey had ruled in favour of Musallam, ordering Kalra to pay the owed amount.

While Kalra remains under investigation, the U.S. Attorney's Office emphasized that the current charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.