The State Board of Medical Examiners has temporarily suspended the license of Ritesh Kalra, a Bergen County internist, following federal charges alleging he prescribed opioid medications without a legitimate medical purpose and solicited sexual favors from patients in exchange for prescriptions. The announcement was made by Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs.
According to documents filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of New Jersey, Kalra is also accused of defrauding New Jersey Medicaid by billing for appointments that did not occur.
A consent order filed with the Board on August 6, 2025, shows that Kalra agreed to temporarily suspend his medical license and his NJ CDS Registration pending the outcome of criminal proceedings and further board action.
“These are alarming allegations that represent the worst kind of abuse of the trust placed in a member of the medical profession,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Public safety demands that this physician have no professional contact with the public while the criminal case against him moves forward. We encourage anyone who has been treated inappropriately by Dr. Kalra to file a complaint with the Board of Medical Examiners.”
Elizabeth M. Harris, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, stated: “When a doctor is charged with a criminal offense, especially in connection with his treatment of patients, his professional judgment and ability to practice medicine are called into question. By obtaining the temporary suspension of Dr. Kalra’s license pending the outcome of these charges, the Board has upheld its duty to protect patients and enforce the standards of the medical profession.”
Kalra faces a five-count federal complaint including three counts related to illegal opioid distribution and two counts connected to healthcare fraud.
Federal authorities allege that Kalra ran what they described as a pill mill from his Fair Lawn office, prescribing high-dose opioids such as oxycodone and promethazine with codeine despite evidence or suspicion that patients were misusing or diverting them. Between January 2019 and February 2025, authorities claim he wrote over 31,000 oxycodone prescriptions—sometimes more than 50 per day—and continued prescribing to at least one patient who was incarcerated during part of this period.
Reports from former employees indicate several female patients complained about sexual misconduct involving Kalra. Federal authorities allege some complaints included demands for oral sex or other acts in return for prescriptions; one patient reported being sexually assaulted multiple times during appointments.
Kalra appeared in Newark federal court on July 17, 2025. He was released under home incarceration on an unsecured $100,000 bond. As conditions for release, he was ordered to close his practice by July 31 and cannot practice medicine or prescribe medications while legal proceedings continue.
Deputy Attorney General Lydwin Nonez represents the State under Section Chief Doreen A. Hafner within the Professional Boards Prosecution Section at the Division of Law’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Practice Group.
