Case against 7 including Shiv Sena leader for seeking Rs 12 lakh from Nagpur hospital doctor

Panchpaoli police in Nagpur have registered a case under various sections against seven people, after allegations that a doctor and hospital were threatened with defamation and loss of licence and asked for Rs 12 lakh following a patient's death at Hope Hospital in Takenaka.

Those booked are Sharad Sarode (45), Yuva Sena district chief of the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena; Manisha Papadkar (40), women's wing chief; Pankaj Khinchi (40), deputy district chief; Mulla Singh Gaur; Pratik Bahuguna (40); Mahesh Dhole (40); and Shubham Sathe (25).

The case was registered on the complaint of Dr Murali Balasundaram Kasiyamal, who runs Hope Hospital in Takenaka and Ayushman Hospital in Ramdaspeth. Patients are treated at Hope Hospital under various government schemes.

According to the complaint, patient Vitthal Tukaram Sathe, a resident of Wardha, was brought to Ayushman Hospital on August 30. His family said they had no money for treatment, so he was sent to Hope Hospital. The gangrene infection had spread through his body. Rs 30,000 was taken from the family for initial tests and medicines bought from outside. The doctor had told the family earlier that Sathe's legs would have to be amputated because of the infection, but they did not consent. Sathe died during treatment on September 5.

When the doctor asked the family to take the body, they refused. The family and office-bearers of the Shinde faction's Yuva Sena then came to the hospital with some media persons. As the commotion grew, hospital management informed the control room and police sent the body for post-mortem.

The complaint alleges that Sarode threatened Dr Murali during this time. It alleges that, threatening to defame the hospital and have its licence cancelled, he demanded Rs 10 lakh for himself and Rs 2 lakh for the patient's family. The doctor filed the complaint with police along with an audio recording. Police have registered a case under various sections, including extortion, and begun an investigation.

Following the allegations, Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangare Patil has suspended Anirudh Puri, in charge of Panchpaoli police station. It is said that Dr Murali had complained of blackmail and an extortion demand by Sarode two to three days after the incident. However, no one from Hope Hospital went to the police station with a written complaint or to file a plea in person, so the matter remained stalled.

On Wednesday the commissioner held a meeting with city doctors on their safety. At the meeting, Inspector Puri was accused of not registering an FIR, after which the commissioner immediately ordered his suspension. Department officials, on the other hand, say Dr Murali or his lawyer was asked several times to come to the station to give a complaint, but filed a formal complaint only on Wednesday. Puri's suspension has also caused resentment among officials in the city.