Dr. Harsha Sahni, an Indian-American physician, has permanently lost her medical license after admitting to illegally recruiting and exploiting two undocumented Indian women as domestic servants for low wages.
Sahni, who operated a rheumatology practice in Colonia, New Jersey, pleaded guilty last February to federal charges of conspiracy to conceal and harbor undocumented workers and filing a false tax return.
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced on Wednesday that Sahni is set to begin a 27-month prison sentence handed down in October 2024. Her medical license had been temporarily suspended since September 2023, pending the outcome of administrative action following her guilty plea.
Sahni harbored the women, referred to in court documents as “Victim 1” and “Victim 2,” for financial gain. Prosecutors revealed that she threatened them with deportation if they contacted law enforcement. The victims worked long hours as housekeepers for minimal wages, with Sahni paying between $240 and $600 monthly to their families in India.
She also admitted to instructing the women to falsely claim they were her family members visiting the U.S. for tourism. Despite employing them, Sahni failed to pay related taxes or disclose their labor on her personal income tax returns.
Attorney General Platkin described Sahni’s actions as a “disturbing case” of exploitation, stating, “There is no place in the medical profession for this kind of criminal conduct and utter disregard for humanity.”
Cari Fais, Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, emphasized the severity of the case, noting, “Only the permanent revocation of her medical license could adequately protect New Jersey residents.”
Sahni’s sentencing and license revocation mark the culmination of a case that highlighted the abuse of vulnerable individuals by a trusted professional.
