‘Dangerous’ beauty fitness business in MP:Dentist offers breast enlargement, gym trainer gives weight-loss injections; fees reach ₹2 lakh

The desire for a ‘perfect look’ before marriage has fueled a dangerous beauty and fitness industry in Madhya Pradesh, where weight-loss injections, steroids, breast enlargement, and virginity-related procedures are being openly promoted. Experts warn these can cause heart attacks, kidney and liver damage, hormonal imbalances, severe infections, and even death. To expose this network, Dainik Bhaskar conducted an undercover sting operation. A reporter posing as a groom-to-be seeking a muscular physique and a female colleague posing as a woman looking to lose weight visited clinics and gyms. During the investigation, Bhaskar’s camera captured a trainer openly administering a weight-loss injection inside a gym. Undercover investigation: Four sting operations Claim to lose 10 kg weight in two months The team reached an aesthetic beauty clinic in Bhopal. There, the director Sahiba Bawa introduced herself as a cosmetologist, trichologist, and BAMS degree holder. The reporter, introducing her female colleague as her sister, said that her wedding is in two months and she wants to lose weight quickly. During the conversation, Sahiba Bawa claimed to reduce the weight of the 74 kg young woman to 64 kg in two months. She suggested a 12-dose course of ‘Ozempic’ injection. She said the injection should be administered once a week or at an interval of 15 days. The entire package was finalised for approximately ₹2 lakh, and the reporter was given a prescription. Breast enlargement guaranteed for one lakh The team met with BDS Dental Surgeon Dr. B.P. Singh. The reporter said that the girl he was going to marry was thin and wanted breast enlargement before marriage. On this, the doctor quoted a cost of about ₹1.10 lakh. When asked about hymenoplasty, a package of ₹2.5 lakh was offered. The doctor wrote down both procedures and their costs on a prescription pad. Claim to lose weight in 8 weeks for 40 thousand At Aura Aesthetic Clinic, Neetu Thapa advised the reporter the ‘Monjaro’ injection for rapid weight loss. When asked about side effects, she called it safe and showed ‘before-after’ pictures of previous patients. She informed that there would be an 8-week course of injections, which would cost ₹5,000 per week. Neetu Thapa, who claimed to be a physiotherapist, also performed PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) therapy on the reporter for ₹1,500. In this, blood is drawn from the body and injected into the scalp. When the desire to build a muscular body was expressed, she mentioned that some gym trainers could provide injections. Later, an agreement was reached to start an injection course. Six-pack in three injections The team reached First Fitness Gym located in Ashoka Garden, where the reporter introduced himself as a contractor who was getting married soon. The reporter met Amit Gurjar. He suggested a course of three Monjaro injections and one medicine for rapid body building. During the conversation, a young man took an AMP injection from Amit Gurjar and administered it to himself. Amit claimed that he had trained many people to administer injections. He also said that he would take responsibility for providing and administering the injections. Amit Gurjar described a package with a monthly cost of around ₹17-18 thousand. According to him, the injections were for weight loss, bringing ‘hardness’ to the body, and increasing strength. Along with this, he advised coming to the gym twice a day. During the meeting, Amit also administered an injection to another young man. Claims of rapid body building were made during the conversation, but there was no mention of potential side effects of the medicines or medical examination. Understand the side effects A 20-year-old youth in the MIG police station area of Indore accused two gym trainers of administering the banned Ozempic injection. According to the youth, he experienced severe physical problems after receiving injections given in the name of increasing weight and stamina. Police have registered a case against both trainers. Opinion of experts and officials Bhopal CMHO Manish Sharma said that such injections should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified doctor. Calling their use by unauthorised persons a serious crime, he spoke of investigation and action. Jitendra Aswani, coach of the Railway Weightlifting team, said that steroids temporarily increase strength, but in the long run can cause muscle loss and serious joint problems. Endocrinologist Dr Sachin Chittawar said that before using these injections, it is necessary to evaluate the patient’s medical history and risks. According to him, only qualified specialists can prescribe or use them. Unsupervised use can pose serious health risks.