HC denies pre-arrest bail for doctor accused of molesting junior doctors

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has denied pre-arrest bail to a senior doctor from KEM Hospital, accused of molesting six junior doctors. The court highlighted the need to consider the "emotional and psychological trauma" suffered by the victims.

On May 8, the high court rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Ravindra Deokar, an additional professor in the forensic medicine department at KEM Hospital.

The victims, assistant professors at the hospital, have accused Deokar of harassment, alleging inappropriate touching and offensive remarks.

Justice Rajesh Patil noted that Deokar had engaged in inappropriate behaviour for an extended period, exploiting his influential position.

The court noted that until now, no one was ready to file a complaint against the senior doctor, as they were traumatised and feared that their career would be affected.

If Deokar is granted anticipatory bail, there is every likelihood he would take revenge against all the complainant victims, and there is also a high chance that he would repeat the same act, the bench said.

"Eventually, one has to consider the emotional and psychological harm caused to the victims who are pursuing their medical courses, and considering the safety in a workplace like a hospital, and to morally and legally protect women's dignity, the present pre-arrest bail application requires to be rejected," the court stated.

A case has been filed against Ravindra Deokar at the Bhoiwada police station. Following the registration of the case, Deokar was suspended. In his plea, he claimed that the complaint stemmed from a personal grudge and internal hospital politics.

The court, in its ruling, highlighted that Deokar was a member of the hospital's internal committee under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Protection, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act.

"This is a case where the allegations are against a doctor who is a member of the POSH committee of inappropriate behaviour with female doctors, by not one but six persons," it said.

This is also not the first time such a complaint has been raised against Deokar, the court remarked, noting that a woman doctor had also filed a similar complaint in 2021.

Justice Patil noted that Deokar has been suspended and not terminated.

"Therefore, if he succeeds in the proceedings initiated against him for suspension, there is a likelihood that he will come back to the hospital and resume his duty," the court said.

The court further said apart from doctors, even medical students are now approaching the police to lodge complaints against Deokar for inappropriate behaviour.

(inputs from PTI)