The complaints have been lodged in different police stations across Sabarkantha district following raids in which the police recovered allopathic medicines from the clinics of these doctors.

No, one, however, had been arrested till reports last came in on Monday.

Inspector Modasa KV Sagar said: “The eight doctors are accused of practicing allopathy illegally. They are practitioners with degrees like BHMS (Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery), but all prescribed allopathic medicines. This is a sheer violation of Section 30 of the Medical Practitioners Act.”

He added that more complaints of similar nature might be lodged against other practitioners of ayurvedic, homoeopathic and Unani medicine.

State Health Secretary Rita Teotia said, some of the doctors were certified allopathy practitioners, and the course of action will only be decided after the final conclusions drawn by the national- level team of experts investigating the outbreak.

She, clarified that no action can be ruled out. The allopathic practitioners registered under the Medical Council of India (MCI) might even have their registration cancelled, she said.

MCI member HP Balodia said: “Once the Health Department complains to the MCI regarding the breach of ethics and negligence, we will start our own inquiry. We might even cancel the registration of the doctors for a temporary or an indefinite period depending on the nature of the offence. If it is a case of breach of ethics, the offence amounts to a crime and will attract an indefinite cancellation of registration.”