Ahmedabad: A doctor was arrested in Ahmedabad for allegedly molesting a female patient while he was conducting a physical examination for a gastric ulcer at a private clinic in Memnagar.
The accused doctor is identified as Dr. Vraj Satishkumar Patel. He is a resident of Thatlej and was taken into custody on October 4 at 7 pm by the Vastrapur Police.
Dr. Vraj was initially produced before a court and was eventually sent to the central jail.
According to the reports, the victim lives in Vastrapur and studies at a local college in the area. She was suffering from an ulcer and had visited the Gastro and Liver Hospital in Memnagar for a consultation and treatment.
During her first consultation with Dr. Vraj, he asked her to get a sonography done and later prescribed her medication.
However, her condition did not improve after she took the medication, so she revisited the hospital on October 1. She was admitted to the hospital for a further procedure.
According to the police and the woman’s complaint, Dr. Patel came to her room on the same night around 8 pm and asked her to remove her inner garments and proceeded to examine her breasts without any medical gloves.
According to the complaint, no female medical staff member was present during the examination.
The complaint also mentioned that the alleged assault also happened the following day.
On October 2, around 6:30 pm, Dr. Vraj revisited her room and locked the door from inside. He then asked permission to examine the woman’s abdomen. However, it was alleged that during the examination, he lowered her inner garments twice without her consent.
The complainant stated that Patel made improper physical contact by touching her genitalia with an ungloved finger before making contact with her anal area using the same finger. She further stated that he made additional contact with her genitalia before exiting the room.
After the misconduct happened, the woman informed her parents about the alleged incident and simultaneously also filed a complaint at Vastrapur Police Station.
Vastrapur police registered an FIR against Dr. Vraj under sections 64(1) and 74 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The particular sections deal with rape or assault and/or use of illegal force against a woman with the specific intention of undressing her, respectively.
Dr. Vraj Satishkumar Patel was taken into custody on October 4, and further investigation is ongoing.
Police are examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged incidents and the treatment provided to the woman.
(Rh/ARC)
