Manipal Hospitals Pune gets show-cause notice for holding body over unpaid bill

Pune: A show cause notice has been issued to Manipal Hospitals in Kharadi after it allegedly refused to hand over the body of a deceased patient to his family until they cleared an outstanding bill of Rs 1.75 lakh. The body was reportedly released only after six hours of keeping it hostage.  

The notice, issued by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Wednesday, asked the hospital to submit a factual report along with a written explanation from the concerned doctors within 24 hours of receipt of the notice.

The incident came to light after Pune Times Mirror reported on it and intervened, helping the family get their kin’s body from the hospital’s captivity. The body was released after the media contacted the hospital over the issue.

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Rambhau Jadhav, a 54-year-old farmer, was admitted to Manipal Hospitals on May 4 for an angioplasty. However, the procedure was not carried out, and instead of the angioplasty, the doctors fitted a pacemaker temporarily. He died on the morning of May 6 at 10 am. 

According to Jadhav’s relative, Ganesh Kharpude, the hospital had initially estimated the cost of treatment at Rs 2.9 lakh, but the hospital later presented them with a bill of Rs 3.3 lakh. However, the bill was reduced to Rs 1.75 lakh, and they refused to release the body until payment was made.

Kharpude said the family repeatedly pleaded with the hospital to allow them to take the body so they could perform the last rites, promising to pay the amount later. But they did not listen until Pune Times Mirror called the hospital, and they handed over the body within 30 minutes.

“The hospital initially told the patient that it would cost around Rs 2.90 lakh to conduct angioplasty. But angioplasty was not performed. They fitted a pacemaker temporarily. The patient died at 7.30 a.m. on May 6,” Ganesh Kharpude told Pune Times Mirror.  

“We asked them to hand over the body at 9 a.m. But the hospital gave us a bill of Rs 3.30 lakh. They gave us a concession and asked us to pay Rs 1.75 lakh. However, they refused to release the body till the bill was paid. We told the hospital administration that we would arrange the money and pay within a few days. We kept requesting them to hand over the body to perform the last rites, but they stuck to their stand," he added. 

When Pune Times Mirror contacted the hospital, they released the body within 30 minutes after the family paid Rs 50,000. 

When questioned by the media about the delay, the hospital administration denied withholding the body and claimed that it took six hours to complete the necessary formalities for its release. They said that the process of releasing the body took longer than usual, while the deceased's family claimed that the hospital insisted on paying the bill first.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the media report, the PMC issued a show cause notice to the hospital as per the provisions of the Maharashtra Nursing Homes Registration Act 1949 and Regulations (Amended) 2021. 

“Prima facie, this indicates a failure on your part to comply with rule 11 (L) of the Maharashtra government notification dated January 14, 2021. This is of serious nature and amounts to a violation of the provisions under the Bombay Nursing Homes Registration Act 1949 and Maharashtra government notification dated January 14, 2021,” the notice read. 

A senior PMC official told HT, “The patient died on Tuesday morning. However, the family requested the hospital to hand over the body so as to perform the last rites, but the hospital was firm on having the dues cleared first. The patient died at 10.07 am, whereas the body was handed over to the relatives not before 4 pm and only after payment of a nominal amount."

Dr Nina Borade, health chief of the PMC, said, “We have issued a notice to the hospital and asked them to submit their response. Further action will be taken after the response is received and the investigation is completed. However, no hospital should refuse treatment for deposit or cannot detain patients, bodies over payment disputes,” she said.

Hospital response

In response to the incident, the hospital issued a statement which mentioned, “The patient was declared dead at 10.07 a.m. on May 6, 2025. Post all formalities and after completing all necessary documentation, the body was handed over to the relatives at 4 p.m.”

It further said, “At Manipal Hospitals, we express our deepest condolences to the family during this incredibly difficult time and offer them our full support. We at Manipal Hospitals take pride in professionalism and sensitivity with which our teams manage such cases, we always place patients and their families at the forefront.”

After being served the notice, the hospital said, “We have received notice from the PMC requesting a factual report and written explanation regarding the death of patient Rambhau Jadhav. We are in the process of compiling the requested details and documents and the same will be submitted within the requested timelines."

This comes shortly after public outrage over the death of a new mother who gave birth to her twin babies after being denied admission at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, after his family failed to pay an advance of Rs 10 lakh. 

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that a seven-month pregnant woman carrying twins died after allegedly being denied admission at the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune due to non-payment of an advance of Rs 10 lakh. The 30-year-old woman was reportedly facing severe pregnancy-related complications when she was rushed to the hospital, but was turned away for treatment.

The patient was the wife of BJP MLC Amit Gorkhe's personal secretary. Allegedly, the gynaecologist who attended to the patient had demanded the deposit before admitting her and starting the treatment. The woman's husband alleged that the hospital demanded a sum of Rs 10 lakh for treatment, even as he expressed his willingness to pay Rs 2.5 lakh upfront. He alleged that the hospital's refusal to admit her or provide immediate medical care caused significant delays. As her condition deteriorated, the situation became increasingly critical. Left with no choice, the family rushed her to another hospital, but tragically, she passed away shortly after giving birth to her twin daughters.

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