Dr. Vijay Kumar, a 49-year-old GOP candidate for state representative in Michigan, has been accused of both health care fraud and the molestation of a teenaged girl. The Republican candidate is a physical therapist who owns and operates five physical therapy businesses in Ogemaw County.

 

According to press releases made available to the public, Kumar is accused of intentionally falsifying information on patient charts in order to make inflated claims to insurance agencies. He is also alleged to have used his position of authority to sexually abuse a minor between the ages of 13 and 16, by coercing her to engage in sexual contact with him.

 

The molestation charge was initially a single count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim between the ages of 13 and 16. However, the prosecutor’s office later added another count of the same charge. Under Michigan law, second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim between the ages of 13 and 16 means that while there was sexual contact with an underaged minor, it did not involve penetration of any kind.

 

The fraud charges are as follows: four counts of intentionally placing false information on a chart by a healthcare provider, three counts of healthcare fraud, and a single count of Medicaid fraud. These charges are all four year felonies, and come as a result of a joint investigation that began in early 2015.

 

Multiple agencies were involved in the investigation, including the Michigan State Police, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office,  the Office of the Inspector General, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

 

With regard to the criminal sexual conduct charge, the sexual abuse is alleged to have happened in August of 2013. Very few details have been released regarding how Kumar is said to have known the alleged victim. Authorities are saying that the alleged sexual assault took place in West Branch, where one of Kumar’s physical therapy business is located.

 

The two cases, one for alleged molestation and one for health care fraud, are being handled separately. The next hearing for the sexual assault case is scheduled for August 13th, with a preliminary hearing to follow on August 20th. Jumar is currently free on a conditional bond, which requires that he have no contact of any kind with the alleged victim.
We have no idea how this case will be resolved, but we intend to follow it closely, and will keep you updated on new developments as they are reported.