KEM Hospital Professor found guilty of sexual harassment, transferred to non-teaching post

Written by Medical Dialogues Team Published On 2025-09-01T14:00:30+05:30 | Updated On 1 Sept 2025 2:20 PM IST

KEM Women Doctors Win First Battle Against Sexual Harassment

Mumbai: Following a detailed four-month investigation, the POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) committee has found a senior professor from the forensic medicine department of the civic-run KEM Hospital guilty of sexual harassment. The report, dated August 18, 2025, marks a significant step in the case, which began earlier this year when six junior women doctors came forward with complaints.

As per the provisions of the POSH Act, the committee's recommendations for disciplinary action must be implemented within 15 days of the verdict.

The report has been submitted to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, who stated that he is yet to go through it. Currently, the additional municipal commissioner is assessing the report, and it will be reviewed by Gagrani on Monday. Afterwards, the next course of action will be determined.

The POSH committee has recommended immediate disciplinary measures, including that the accused professor be transferred out of KEM Hospital until the complainants complete their academic year. The professor has also been prohibited from holding any position that involves supervisory powers for the next five years. During this period, they will be restricted to a non-academic role and barred from serving as an examiner for the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) examinations. In addition, the professor has been ordered to vacate the service accommodation on campus and warned that any future instances of inappropriate behaviour will result in stricter disciplinary measures.

Also Read: KEM Hospital Forensic Medicine Head booked for Sexual Harassment

According to The Indian Express, sources confirmed that the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) has been formally notified of the developments, and the punitive measures are to be recorded in the doctor’s official service record.

The case first came to light on March 15 when women doctors at KEM noticed a visibly distressed young female student in the forensic medicine department. Concerned by her anxious and irritable demeanor, senior doctors sat with her, leading to a shocking revelation: the student alleged that she had been subjected to inappropriate behaviour by the senior doctor.

This prompted other women doctors in the department to come forward, revealing their own experiences of harassment. A formal complaint was filed on April 12, 2025, accusing the professor of sexual harassment, with additional women joining the complaint in the following weeks.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that a senior doctor at the BMC-run KEM Hospital in Parel has been suspended after a complaint was filed against him by six women doctors, who accused him of sexual harassment. The doctor has also been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 74 (acts of unwelcome physical contact, advances, or sexually coloured remarks), 75 (use of criminal force with intent to outrage modesty), and 79 (protection from actions intended to insult modesty).

Also Read: KEM Hospital Professor Accused of Sexual Harassment by 6 Doctors, Suspended

The accused doctor was suspended shortly after and allegedly went into hiding, prompting police to launch a search. His attempt to secure anticipatory bail was rejected by both a sessions court and the Bombay High Court, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the number of complainants. He was eventually arrested on May 26, but was released the same day on interim bail granted by the Supreme Court.

Speaking to the Indian Express, sources said numerous complainants revealed that the doctor would threaten women doctors with academic consequences, including the possibility of failing them in exams, if they spoke up about his conduct. The threat created a pervasive climate of fear, causing some victims to defer reporting their experiences until after their post-graduation, the sources added.

Another complainant stated that the tragedy of being a woman in this system lies in knowing that even in spaces meant for healing, it remains a man's world—one built to silence her.

According to the Indian Express, another doctor, also part of the six complainants, added, “We knew that he was fully aware of his actions and the comments that he made. His inappropriate behaviour was not restricted to the staff but also to the students (MBBS and MD students). After we filed the complaint, a few of these students even reached out to us with their own incidents with the doctor.”

Despite the POSH committee’s verdict, there remains a sense of unfinished business. The complainants are determined to pursue their case in court.

Also Read:NO Bail to KEM Hospital Professor Accused of Sexual Harassment by 6 Doctors

“The recommendations from the POSH enquiry report should be implemented strictly and immediately, and there should be no attempt to mitigate the same. We hope this will motivate all women suffering sexual harassment in the medical field to raise their voices against their perpetrators. This is a partial relief for all of us, but the fight for justice will continue in the court of law,” the complainants said, reports the Indian Express.

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Medical Dialogues Team