Surat PG Doctor Harsh Pandya Found Dead; 4 Senior Doctors Suspended After Ragging Inquiry

Surat, Gujarat: A postgraduate medical student, Harsh Pandya, was found dead in his hostel room at New Civil Hospital, Surat, on Sunday, August 9, 2026, after he failed to report for scheduled duty. The incident prompted the Gujarat government to order a high-level inquiry into possible ragging, mental or physical harassment and negligence at Government Medical College (GMC), Surat.

The college’s Anti-Ragging Committee subsequently examined complaints and statements from first-year resident doctors, their families, senior residents, faculty members and other staff. The committee concluded that ragging had taken place, including verbal abuse and humiliation involving Pandya.

Following the findings, four senior resident doctors were suspended for six months, ordered to vacate the hostel and barred from participating in academic activities. The hospital administration also initiated the process of filing a police complaint against them.

The inquiry, however, has not established that the alleged ragging was the definitive cause of Pandya’s death. Police and forensic investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death remain underway.

Pandya was a first-year postgraduate resident in the Microbiology Department at Government Medical College, Surat, and was working as a resident doctor at New Civil Hospital.

Reports identified him as being from Modasa in Gujarat’s Aravalli district. Medical Dialogues reported that he had joined the MD Microbiology programme in February 2026 and had been pursuing his postgraduate course in Surat for around six months.

Pandya was scheduled for emergency duty on the morning of August 9. When he failed to report for duty and could not be reached, his colleagues went to his hostel room to check on him and found him dead.

Also see: 'I Got My Degree, Not Justice': AIIMS Jodhpur Denies Ragging Allegations by MCh Graduate Dr. Vikrant Sharma

Following the incident, Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya ordered a high-level inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Pandya’s death.

The government directed the inquiry to examine whether he had faced ragging, mental harassment, physical harassment or negligence by any individual or authority.

The committee was led by GMC Surat Dean Dr Jayesh M Brahmbhatt and Medical Superintendent Dr Parul Vadgama. Additional Director of Medical Education and Research Dr Jayesh Sachde was assigned to supervise the inquiry.

Pansheriya said strict legal and administrative action would follow if the investigation established ragging, harassment or negligence. He also spoke with Pandya’s family and assured them of appropriate action.

Meanwhile, Khatodara police began investigating the death. The health minister said preliminary investigation led police to suspect suicide, while all possible angles were being examined. A panel postmortem and forensic autopsy were also ordered.

The college’s Anti-Ragging Committee examined allegations involving senior residents. The Anti-Ragging Squad recorded statements from nine first-year resident doctors and their families, besides questioning senior residents, faculty members and Microbiology Department technicians.

According to Dean Dr Jayesh Brahmbhatt, complaints and statements alleged that Pandya had faced verbal abuse and humiliation in the presence of other students.

After examining the statements and material submitted during the inquiry, the committee concluded that ragging had taken place.

Also see: Uttarakhand, Nine MBBS Students Suspended at Doon Medical College in Ragging Case

Four senior resident doctors were suspended for six months following the committee’s findings:

• Dr. Nirali Vasave

• Dr. Anuj Maheshwari

• Dr. Dikshita Ghevariya

• Dr. Hina Bhut

The four doctors were ordered to vacate the hostel immediately and were barred from participating in academic activities. The hospital administration also began the process of filing a police complaint against them.

The disciplinary action also extended to faculty members.

According to The Times of India, show-cause notices were issued to four faculty members: Dr. Sumaiya Mulla, Dr. Sangeeta Rajde, Dr. Yogita Mistry and Dr. Latika Purohit.

TOI reported that the Anti-Ragging Committee’s report was approved by the college council and submitted to the Gujarat government. The inquiry reportedly continued through the night, with statements recorded until around 4 am on August 10 and suspension orders issued at approximately 5 am.

Pandya’s family described him as calm, responsible and honest and said they had not expected such an extreme situation.

His family also alleged that statements from his fellow students and colleagues highlighted toxicity and mental harassment by seniors. They suspected that pressure and alleged harassment may have contributed to the circumstances surrounding his death.

The college’s disciplinary inquiry and the police investigation remain separate proceedings. Khatodara police are investigating Pandya’s death, while the forensic examination and postmortem are expected to provide further information.

At the same time, the hospital administration is pursuing a police complaint against the four suspended doctors following the Anti-Ragging Committee’s findings.

Further legal action will depend on the findings of the ongoing police and forensic investigations.

(Rh/ARC/MSM)