Kozhikode MCH sexual assault case: 5 hospital staff suspended for attempting to influence victim

Kozhikode: Days after five staff members of Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (MCH) were suspended for attempting to talk a sexual harassment victim out of her complaint against their colleague, they are nowhere to be found and have reportedly gone into hiding. 

The Medical College Police are trying to track the staff down, who allegedly offered money to the woman in return for changing her statement. 

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A sexual harassment complaint was filed against a Grade 1 attendant at the post-operative ICU at the medical college by a 32-year-old woman. She alleged that the man harassed her after she was shifted from the operation theatre to the post-operative ICU following a thyroid surgery on March 18. She had informed the hospital authorities with the help of an ICU nurse and had submitted a complaint

The police caught the accused on March 20. He was booked under rape and assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to 'outrage her modesty.' 

In her complaint, the patient alleged that around six staff members offered her money to settle down the case and urged her to retract her statement against their colleague. The police subsequently booked the six under various non-bailable sections based on the woman's complaint. 

The complainant also alleged that some staff members began spreading rumors that she had mental health issues and her complaint was fake. A complaint was filed against the staff members under IPC Section 195 (A) (threatening any person to give false evidence) and section 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).  

Senior police leading the investigation told the Hindu, "The arrest is delayed as all of them have gone into hiding following a police investigation. They are not in Kozhikode district now." 

After the complaint by the woman, the medical college deployed women security personnel and allowed only the doctors and nurses treating the patient to enter, reports the TOI.

Based on a report prepared by the Director of Medical Education on the directions of Health Minister Veena George, the hospital administration issued a suspension order to the complicit attendees of the hospital, and a daily wage worker was dismissed from her post. 

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