Dr. Harsha Sahni, an Indian American physician in New Jersey, has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison and permanently lost her medical license after exploiting two illegal immigrants as domestic workers. Sahni was convicted of harboring the women and forcing them to work for unreasonably low wages.
In February 2024, Sahni pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens and filing a false tax return. Prosecutors revealed that Sahni paid the women between $3,000 and $7,200 annually and manipulated them into believing they would be arrested if they spoke to authorities.
The doctor instructed the women to lie to immigration officers by claiming they were family members visiting the United States for tourism. Sahni also failed to report their labor on her tax filings, allowing her to avoid taxes and bypass fair labor laws.
One of the women was reportedly forced to work from early morning until late at night, earning just $240 to $600 a month. Most of her meager pay was sent to support her family in India, exposing the severe financial abuse she endured.
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 misconduct. “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 significant legal step in holding her accountable for exploiting vulnerable individuals for personal benefit.
