Indian American Doctor Loses Medical License And Faces Prison For Exploiting Illegal Servants
An Indian American doctor in New Jersey has been sentenced to prison and permanently stripped of her medical license after exploiting two illegal immigrants for forced labor. Dr. Harsha Sahni was convicted of harboring two Indian women and forcing them to work as household servants for extremely low wages.
Sahni pleaded guilty in February 2024 to federal charges of conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens and filing a false tax return. She admitted to paying the women between $3,000 and $7,200 annually, far below legal labor standards. Reports also reveal that Sahni used threats of deportation to keep the women under her control.
In addition to exploiting their labor, Sahni instructed the women to lie to immigration officials by claiming they were family members visiting the United States for tourism. She also failed to report their labor on her tax filings, avoiding legal employment requirements.
One of the women was reportedly forced to work grueling hours, starting at 7:00 a.m. and continuing until 10:00 p.m., earning only $240 to $600 per month. The minimal wages were sent back to her family in India, further highlighting the severe exploitation.
In October 2024, a federal judge sentenced Sahni to 27 months in prison for her crimes. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin condemned Sahni’s actions, stating, “The revocation announced today brings closure to a disturbing case in which a physician sworn to uphold the highest standards of care and compassion exploited and abused vulnerable victims for her own financial gain.”
Cari Fais, Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, also criticized Sahni’s conduct. “Sahni’s treatment of the women she illegally harbored as cheap labor for her and her family violated the most basic rules of the medical profession and caused her victims unimaginable suffering,” Fais said.
Sahni is set to begin serving her prison sentence soon, marking a decisive end to her medical career.