Padma Shri Dr. T. K. Lahiri's Family Alleges Assault at BHU Hospital, University Denies Claim

The family of Padma Shri awardee and senior cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Tapan Kumar Lahiri (T. K. Lahiri), Ex-Prof. of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has alleged that he was physically assaulted while undergoing treatment at Sir Sunderlal Hospital of BHU, in Varanasi.

The alleged incident was reported to have taken place on August 29 while Dr. Lahiri was admitted to the cardiothoracic care unit at the hospital.

His family alleged that an associate professor in the department abused and slapped the 85-year-old doctor. They said he suffered injuries to his face and one eye.

BHU has disputed the allegation. The university said the matter was medically assessed after a complaint was received. According to BHU, the hospital's medical superintendent found no basis for the allegations.

Dr. Arvind Pandey, who was named in the family's complaint, denied slapping Dr. Lahiri. In a report by Amar Ujala, Dr. Pandey wrote in an IMS-BHU doctors' WhatsApp group that he had "forcibly restrained" Dr. Lahiri during a cleaning procedure because he was not cooperating with staff attempting to clean the bed.

Family Alleges Assault on Dr. T. K. Lahiri at BHU Hospital

According to Dr. Lahiri's family, the alleged incident occurred on the night of August 29. He was admitted to the cardiothoracic department at Sir Sunderlal Hospital.

Ketaki, Dr. Lahiri's niece, was informed about the incident on September 1 by someone in the department. The family said Ketaki was contacted by someone associated with the department and was shown photographs and videos of Lahiri. The images reportedly showed marks on his face and redness involving one eye.

The family subsequently sent a complaint by email to the BHU vice chancellor, the director of the Institute of Medical Sciences, or IMS-BHU, and the medical superintendent.

According to Amar Ujala, the family also requested a medical examination to determine whether Dr. Lahiri had suffered internal injuries in addition to the visible injuries shown in photographs and videos.

Dr. Lahiri has been admitted to Sir Sunderlal Hospital since January 27, 2026.

BHU Forms Medical Board After T. K. Lahiri Assault Allegations

Hospital and university authorities took note of the complaint and constituted a medical board to examine Lahiri and review the allegations.

Initial reports cited hospital officials stating that a board had been formed after the complaint was received and that further action would depend on its findings.

According to BHU's official statement, the medical superintendent ordered a full assessment of Dr. Lahiri on September 3 by various specialists from cardiology, general medicine, psychiatry, geriatrics, neurology, critical care, and tuberculosis and chest diseases.

BHU reports from specialists detailed a number of health issues for Dr. Lahiri, both physical and mental. Among them were heart disease, tuberculosis, and senile dementia with changes in his behavior. The university noted that these health problems might have influenced how Dr. Lahiri reacted to medical care and worked with the hospital.

Amar Ujala also reported that Dr. Arvind Pandey gave a different account of the incident. Dr. Pandey said physical restraint was used when Lahiri did not cooperate with the staff to clean the bed after a bowel movement and denied slapping him. Dr. Pandey also alleged that Dr. Lahiri prevented a sanitation worker from completing the task and spat at him and members of the cleaning staff.

Dr. Pandey said he restrained Lahiri because the procedure could not otherwise be completed.

The hospital's medical superintendent later described the allegations of assault or misconduct as baseless.

BHU Removes Dr. Arvind Pandey From T. K. Lahiri's Care Duties

A September 7 report by Amar Ujala said the IMS-BHU director stated that Dr. Pandey had been removed from duties involving Dr. Lahiri's care while the matter was being examined.

The same report said a seven-member committee had been formed in connection with the case.

It also reported that a three-member committee involving the BHU chief proctor, the IMS director and a deputy commissioner of police had been constituted after a state minister visited Dr. Lahiri following directions from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The minister said Dr. Lahiri had denied that an unpleasant incident had happened to him during their interaction.

Family and BHU Give Conflicting Accounts of Dr. Lahiri's Care and Communication

The family and BHU have also presented differing accounts about communication during Dr. Lahiri's hospital stay.

Dr. Lahiri's relatives alleged that they were not promptly informed about his medical condition or the alleged incident. They said they learned about the incident through someone associated with the department rather than directly from the hospital administration.

BHU said that they had attempted to contact the family members regarding Lahiri's health. They also claimed that no relative had come forward to provide his care during his hospital stay.

The family disputed this account and said that relatives visited Lahiri periodically.

Who Is Padma Shri Doctor T. K. Lahiri?

Dr. Tapan Kumar Lahiri is an emeritus professor associated with the Institute of Medical Sciences at Banaras Hindu University and a Padma Shri awardee.

He retired from IMS-BHU in 2003 but continued to provide medical consultations to patients, according to multiple reports.

He received the Padma Shri in 2016 in recognition of his contributions to medicine.

People often called Dr. Lahiri "Doctor God" because he spent so much time caring for patients and doing charity work.

What Is the Current Status of the Dr. T. K. Lahiri's Assault Allegation?

As of September 7, reviews of the incident are still ongoing. Dr. Arvind Pandey, who was mentioned in the family's complaint, has been taken off the team caring for Lahiri.

(Rh/MSM)