Sion Hospital Forensic Medicine Head arrested for allegedly running over woman patient in hospital premises

Pune: A senior doctor at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, also known as Sion Hospital, in central Mumbai was arrested on Saturday evening for allegedly running over and killing a 60-year-old woman patient inside the hospital premises. The doctor was granted cash bail of Rs 20,000 on Sunday by the magistrate court.

Rajesh C Dere, professor and head of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, was arrested in connection with the accident that took place on Friday night, a police official said.

According to the police, the incident occurred around 7:30 pm on Friday when Dr Rajesh Dere was driving a Tata Harrier.

Dere’s speeding car allegedly hit Rubeda Sheikh at gate number 7 near the OPD building inside Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, also known as Sion Hospital. She succumbed to her injuries during treatment.

According to an ANI report, Anil Jadhav, the lawyer of the accused, said that the offence under which the case is registered against Dr Dhere is a 'bailable offence'.'' The offence, under which the case is registered, 304A, is a bailable offence...He has been granted bail of Rs 20,000,'' he told reporters.

The police registered a case under sections 304A (causing death by negligence), 388 (causing grievous hurt by endangering life or personal safety), 279 (rash driving), 203 (giving false information about an offence),177 (furnishing false information) and other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the doctor, based on the complainant of the deceased woman's son, Shahnawaz Khan.

The doctor allegedly did not stop after hitting her. Police scanned CCTV footage to confirm that it was Dere’s car that knocked her down, the official said.

The senior doctor was booked under section 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC and other relevant sections, and further probe was on, he said.

 As per a media report in The Indian Express, Following the incident, Dr Dere called other hospital authorities and admitted the woman to Ward Number 20. She was placed on a ventilator, but the hospital did not inform the police about the accident. “We learned about the unconscious woman near Gate Number 7 around 11 pm. A woman officer was sent to inquire at the hospital. Upon seeing the injuries, further investigation revealed that an accident had taken place inside the hospital,” a senior police officer said.

Speaking to the media, Dr Dere said, “I was not speeding inside the hospital. After the incident, I personally took her to the hospital and admitted her to the ICU.” He claimed that the cause of her death was cardiac arrest and not injuries from the accident.