KGMU Harassment, Conversion Case: Parents of accused doctor arrested

Lucknow: The investigation into an alleged sexual harassment case at King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, involving pressure on a female doctor to convert her religion for marriage, which reportedly led her to attempt suicide, has resulted in the arrest of the accused doctor’s parents, while the main accused doctor is still absconding.

Police arrested the parents of the accused doctor from a rented flat in Thakurganj on Monday for their alleged involvement in the religious conversion and miscarriage of two women medical students, one at KGMU and the other at Agra Medical College.

Also read- Harassment, conversion case: KGMU panel begins probe, search for absconding doctor

Medical Dialogues recently reported that the accused doctor, who has been suspended and booked over serious allegations of sexual exploitation, blackmail, and forcibly attempting to convert a colleague’s religion, has gone absconding.

The accused doctor has been untraceable for many days, with his mobile phone reportedly switched off. Notices issued to him by the police have not been complied with so far.

Based on preliminary information, police suspect that the doctor may have fled to the neighbouring state of Uttarakhand. In this regard, Uttar Pradesh Police have contacted their counterparts in Uttarakhand to trace his possible movements.

The incident comes in the wake of the affected female doctor, who stated that she is a Hindu and alleged that her male colleague, who belongs to the Muslim community, emotionally exploited her and pressured her to convert to Islam to marry him. She claimed that after she refused, he continued to harass her, which pushed her into severe mental distress and led to her suicide attempt.

On December 27, she allegedly attempted suicide by consuming a large quantity of medicines inside her hostel room at KGMU. She was immediately rushed to the Trauma Centre and later shifted to the fifth floor of the Critical Care Management (CCM) ICU for advanced treatment.

It is to be noted that the accused reportedly married a batchmate in February this year after she allegedly converted her religion. Both were studying at Agra Medical College when they decided to tie the knot.

Speaking to TOI, a police officer said, "Both the survivors have given written testimonies in the presence of a magistrate that they were forcibly converted, sexually exploited, and subjected to miscarriage by not just the KGMU doctor, but also his parents."

Initially, police had announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for the arrest of the doctor, which was further increased to Rs 50,000 on Monday.

Also read- KGMU doctor absconds amid harassment and forced conversion allegations