Case against Yuva Sena's Sharad Sarode, 6 others for demanding Rs 12 lakh extortion from Nagpur hospital

Nagpur: A patient died during treatment at Hope Hospital in Takenaka. The hospital has alleged that, after the death, Rs 12 lakh was demanded from it as extortion, with threats to defame it and get its licence cancelled by accusing the doctors and the hospital of negligence. Panchpaoli police have registered a case against seven members of the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction).

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

The complaint was filed by Dr Murali Balasundaram Kasiyamal, director of Hope Hospital. According to his complaint, patients are treated at the hospital under government schemes. On August 30, a patient named Vitthal Sathe from Wardha was brought to their Ayushman Hospital in Ramdaspeth for treatment. The relatives had said they had no money for treatment, so Sathe was sent to Hope Hospital.

Sathe had a gangrene infection spreading through his body. Rs 30,000 was taken from them for preliminary tests and medicines from outside. The relatives had also been told that Sathe's legs would have to be amputated because the infection had spread. The relatives did not consent. Sathe died on September 5 while undergoing treatment.

When the doctors asked the relatives to take the body away, they refused. Sathe's relatives and Yuva Sena office-bearers of the Shinde faction then arrived at the hospital with some media persons. As the situation turned chaotic, the management informed the police. The police later sent the body for post-mortem.

According to the complaint, Sharad Sarode threatened Dr Murali during this time. It is alleged that he threatened to defame the hospital and get its licence cancelled, and demanded Rs 10 lakh for himself and Rs 2 lakh for the patient's relatives. The doctor complained to the police with audio recordings. The police have registered a case under various sections, including extortion, and started an investigation.

In this matter, Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangre Patil has suspended Panchpaoli station house officer Aniruddha Puri. Two to three days after the incident, Dr Murali had complained that Sharad Sarode was blackmailing him and demanding extortion money. However, Hope Hospital had not sent anyone to the police station to file a written complaint, which delayed the registration of the case.

At a meeting with the city's doctors on Wednesday, it was alleged that Inspector Puri had not filed an FIR. The Police Commissioner then promptly suspended Puri. Police officers are upset over Puri's suspension.