Nagpur police have registered a fresh FIR against six people over alleged extortion, threats and obstruction of medical services at Ayushman Hospital in Ramdaspeth after a patient’s death at another hospital, adding a new case to an ongoing dispute involving alleged attacks on doctors and hospital staff.
The Sitabuldi police FIR, registered on October 10, names Sharad Sarode, Manish Dhole, Pankaj Khinchi, Pratik Bahuguna, Manisha Papadkar and Shubham Sathe, along with others. The case follows allegations that the patient’s relatives and political workers brought the body to Ayushman Hospital, placed it outside the intensive care unit and prevented doctors and nurses from attending to patients.
According to Ruby Oman, the hospital’s administrator and complainant in the case, Vitthal Tukaram Sathe, a resident of Wardha, was admitted to Ayushman Hospital around 3am on August 30. He was temporarily admitted there because Hope Hospital did not have a bed available and the family wanted treatment under the Ayushman scheme. After consent was obtained, he was shifted to Hope Hospital, where he died during treatment on September 5.
Oman alleged that the relatives and political workers later brought the body back to Ayushman Hospital in Ramdaspeth. The group allegedly raised slogans and obstructed access to the intensive care unit, affecting the work of medical staff and access to patients. She further alleged that the group demanded ₹12 lakh from Dr Murali to settle the dispute and that Manish Dhole threatened to visit her residence.
Police took Oman and Dr Murali to the police station for their protection, according to the complaint. The relatives later removed the body in an ambulance, with the hospital paying the fare, the complaint stated.
The fresh case is separate from an earlier FIR registered at Panchpaoli police station. That case concerns an alleged extortion attempt and obstruction of medical work at Hope Hospital, involving Dr Murali, and was under investigation, according to Oman. The new FIR concerns the subsequent alleged disruption at Ayushman Hospital, although the patient had died at Hope Hospital.
The police have invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act, 2010. The law specifically addresses violence against healthcare personnel and damage or loss to medical institutions.
The case comes after Nagpur police commissioner Vishwas Nagre Patil told The Times of India on Friday that strong cases would be built to secure convictions in attacks on hospitals and doctors. He also said old cases would be revived as part of the renewed action against violence and intimidation in healthcare settings.
The allegations in the FIR have not been established in court, and the police investigation is continuing. The next steps will include investigation of the alleged extortion demand, obstruction of medical services, threats and the conduct of those named in both cases.
