5,000 Texts, 1,000 Calls: Lucknow Patient Arrested After Stalking RMLIMS Doctor from Clinic to Her Apartment

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh – A 41-year-old man, identified as Mahesh Tiwari from Basti, has been arrested for repeated harassment of a female assistant professor at the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS), Lucknow. The arrest happened after the patient sent thousands of messages and made hundreds of calls in a day apart from physical stalking on campus.

Harassment Escalates Despite Early Warnings

Mahesh Tiwari, who had earlier consulted the doctor, acquired the phone number to thank her and began sending polite messages. This quickly turned into harassment after few days. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the doctor received more than 5,000 lewd text messages and over 1,000 phone calls in a single day. Physical stalking had also begun by the time, which had left the doctor distressed.

On May 12, 2025, the doctor filed a complaint with the 1090 Women’s Helpline due to the harassment. After the complaint police issued warnings to Mahesh Tiwari and local police visited his residence to counsel him. Although the harassment paused for a while, it resumed again tenfold.

Incident That Led to Arrest

The situation escalated further on August 19, when the professor noticed Mahesh Tiwari following her from the outpatient department to her residence in the faculty apartments. While waiting for the elevator, she realized he was standing behind her near the elevator with apparent intent to attack. After she screamed, security guards apprehended him and handed him over to the police.

Following the incident, a formal complaint was lodged at the Vibhuti Khand Police Station, leading to Mahesh Tiwari's arrest on August 21.

Charges Registered

Authorities have registered an FIR under Section 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), addressing stalking, and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act (2008), which pertains to the transmission of obscene content electronically.

Psychological Impact and Institutional Response

The doctor expressed that the persistent harassment instilled “fear and anxiety,” and she noted the toll it took on her mental well-being. Her family also voiced serious concerns regarding her safety.

RMLIMS has not issued a public statement regarding the incident so far.

Mental health experts always stress that stalking and persistent harassment can cause significant psychological distress for victims, including anxiety, sleep disturbances, and fear of professional or personal spaces. For healthcare workers, who already experience high levels of occupational stress, such incidents can further increase the risk of burnout and impact patient care.

Addressing stalking as both a legal and mental health concern is essential, and support systems within hospitals and professional networks can play a crucial role in helping victims cope while ensuring their safety.

(Rh/Eth/TL/MSM)