Surat urologist arrested over alleged Rs 2 crore rent dues

Surat: A urologist who runs a multispecialty hospital in Vesu, Surat, has been arrested for allegedly failing to pay around Rs 2 crore in rent and continuing to occupy the premises despite demands to clear the dues and vacate the property.

The doctor had taken the premises in a commercial complex on lease in December 2022 to operate the hospital. The agreement fixed the monthly rent at Rs 3.58 lakh, with a 5% annual increase. Police said the rent was paid regularly until September 2023, after which the payments allegedly stopped.

According to reports, the property owner subsequently sought payment of the outstanding rent and asked the hospital operator to vacate the premises. According to the complaint, the dues continued to accumulate while the hospital remained operational from the property.

The owner also alleged that when he approached the doctor over the pending rent and possession of the premises, he was threatened with a complaint under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The matter was later taken before the Surat collector under the Gujarat Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act. The land-grabbing committee ruled in favour of the property owner and directed the Surat police commissioner to register a criminal case against the doctor.

Following registration of the FIR, Vesu police arrested the doctor. A police officer said the arrest was made after the accused allegedly continued running the hospital from the disputed premises without clearing the rent or vacating the property.

Speaking to TOI, Vesu police inspector J A Rathwa said, “We arrested the accused doctor on Monday after the FIR was filed. The accused ran a multispecialty hospital in Vesu and was not vacating it. After he was produced in court, he was sent to judicial custody.”