State medical regulators say a San Diego psychiatrist crossed one of the brightest red lines in medicine, accusing him of having sexual encounters with a patient during her appointments, right inside his office, and giving her money while she was under his care. The same complaint says he sexually harassed female staff and tried to steer the patient’s story once investigators started asking questions.
Dr. Ankur Bindal, founder of KMG Psychiatry, has pushed back on the accusations, saying the alleged behavior is “not in my character” and that he needs time to prepare a defense.
What’s alleged
According to 10News, the Medical Board’s formal accusation claims the boundary violations started at the patient’s very first visit in 2020, when Bindal allegedly asked if he could run his fingers through her hair. The document alleges that, later, he kissed her in his office and told her to “keep it low.”
10News reports the Medical Board also accuses Bindal of drafting a false written statement for the patient and instructing her to “say as little as possible” when investigators followed up. The board further alleges he gave her money while she remained his patient and that multiple female employees at KMG Psychiatry were subjected to sexual harassment.
Formal filing and charges
The public records system for the Medical Board of California shows an Accusation and Petition to Revoke was filed against Bindal on Nov. 24, 2025. The filing lays out a laundry list of potential violations, including sexual exploitation, sexual misconduct, gross negligence, repeated negligent acts, dishonest or corrupt acts, failure to maintain adequate and accurate records, and unprofessional conduct.
If those allegations are ultimately upheld after review or a hearing, the board could impose discipline that ranges up to suspension or outright revocation of his medical license.
The law and debate
According to 10News, the accusation is already stirring debate around AB 1636, a law that took effect in January 2023 and is aimed at permanently barring doctors who are disciplined for sexual misconduct from getting their licenses back.
The outlet reports that Medical Board spokesperson Alexandria Schembra said it is “too soon to know” whether AB 1636 will come into play in this case, noting that Bindal still has the right to challenge the accusations before an administrative law judge. State Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson, who coauthored AB 1636, told the station she drafted the law specifically to keep doctors found to have committed sexual misconduct from returning to practice.
Practice background
Bindal is listed as the founder and CEO of KMG Psychiatry, a San Diego area practice with offices in Chula Vista and Sorrento Valley. His professional profile on Psychology Today describes the practice as offering services such as medication management, transcranial magnetic stimulation and sleep-medicine care.
What happens next
For now, the case sits in the enforcement pipeline at the state board. A doctor who is served with an accusation has the right to request a hearing and be represented by an attorney, and an administrative law judge usually oversees that process, according to the Medical Board of California.
If the accused physician does not ask for a hearing, the board can act on the accusation without one. When a hearing does occur and the judge issues a proposed decision, the board can adopt it and impose penalties that may include probation, suspension, or revocation. As of now, the Accusation in Bindal’s case is on file, and no hearing date or final decision has been posted.
