Caller threatened me to take back the case, says AIIMS doctor who accused colleague of rape

New Delhi: A senior neurosurgery professor from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi who was granted anticipatory bail a year ago by a sessions court after being accused of repeatedly raping another doctor under the pretext of marriage, is now accused of threatening the alleged victim to withdraw her case, despite the court's strict warning against contacting her. In this regard, Hauz Khas police on Friday lodged an FIR.

The complainant, a 39-year-old doctor, alleged that she received two threatening phone calls from the accused while on her way to the hospital. According to the FIR, the caller warned her to drop the rape case, threatened to kill her, and claimed to know about her whereabouts. Distressed by the threats, she immediately contacted the police helpline which led to the registration of a fresh FIR on Friday.  

Also read- Relief: 54 year old AIIMS doctor accused of raping colleague granted anticipatory bail

This is not the first time that the complainant had approached the police but in July 2023 and December 2024, the alleged victim lodged two complaints, stating that she was being intimidated by the accused and his associates. She even claimed that her family members were also threatened in the past by the accused. 

It is to be noted that Medical Dialogues had reported back in February 2024 that Additional Sessions Judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey granted pre-arrest bail to the male doctor against whom Delhi Police had registered a case under penal provisions of rape, unnatural offences, causing miscarriage without woman’s consent, and criminal intimidation.

The charges were framed against the accused doctor after the female doctor claimed of being raped at a party that happened at the residence of the accused on the night of AIIMS institution day on September 25, 2021. In that particular year, Medical Dialogues reported this incident where the doctor was booked under various sections of IPC including the charges of rape by the Delhi Police.

The alleged victim is a junior of the accused and belongs to a different department than the accused. The female doctor had gone to the accused's house with several other colleagues where the incident occurred. The complainant got drunk at the party and decided to stay at the accused's house. She alleged that since the wife of the male doctor was not present in the house, he allegedly took advantage of the situation there and allegedly raped her.

Based on her statement, Hauz Khas police registered an FIR under sections 376 and 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Later, the matter was taken up by a session court in 2024 which ruled that the accused was entitled to anticipatory bail considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case, the submissions before it, the fact that the chargesheet was filed without arrest, and the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court in a 2022 case, the court said the accused was entitled to anticipatory bail.

The court allowed the relief subject to the accused furnishing a bail bond and surety bond of Rs 25,000 each. Other conditions for bail included that the accused will not try to contact the complainant's fellow doctor or witnesses, tamper with evidence, and regularly appear before the court.

Even after the court's strict warning against contacting her, the accused recently called her from an unknown number as claimed by the female doctor. Recalling the incident, the complainant said in her FIR as reported by Indian Express, “The caller threatened me and asked me to take back the rape case… He said he would shoot me dead and also said he knew about my whereabouts and timings. I was shocked, and scared and immediately dialled 112 (police helpline number) and informed the police."

Speaking to The Indian Express, the woman said, “In December 2024 as well, I had informed the police about the threats I received at the hospital and from the doctor and his men. Following this, a case was registered. Not just me, even my family members were threatened. His men reached my house in Ghaziabad.” 

Further, she has also accused the police of not cooperating and shielding the accused. Meanwhile, the court will frame the charges in this case in the next hearing that is going to take place on April 16. 

Also read- AIIMS senior doctor booked after colleague alleges rape