Six Doctors Booked for Culpable Homicide in Ahmednagar Covid-19 Case

Strategic Insights -

Six doctors and hospital staff in Ahmednagar have been booked for their alleged involvement in the disappearance of a 79-year-old patient's body during the Covid-19 pandemic. The case originated from a complaint filed by Ashok Babanrao Khokarale, whose father, Babanrao Khokarale, was admitted to a Covid care centre in August 2020. Despite initial normal reports, Babanrao was allegedly subjected to unauthorized medical procedures, made multiple distress calls to his sons, and eventually died. The hospital demanded a hefty medical bill from the family before releasing the body, claiming it had been sent to the Civil Hospital. However, the family's searches proved the body was missing, and the case was brought to the attention of the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court. Following an investigation by a committee appointed by the district civil surgeon, the court directed the police to register an FIR, leading to the booking of the accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994.

Key Takeaways:

  • A 79-year-old patient, Babanrao Khokarale, was admitted to a Covid care centre in Ahmednagar for minor throat pain and constipation in August 2020.
  • The patient was subjected to unauthorized medical procedures and made multiple distress calls to his sons, pleading for help.
  • The hospital demanded Rs.1.84 lakh in medical bills from the family before releasing the body, claiming it had been sent to the Civil Hospital.
  • The family searched the Civil Hospital, Nucleus Hospital, and Amardham crematorium but found no trace of the body, which remains missing to date.
  • A committee appointed by the district civil surgeon confirmed multiple lapses and misconduct by the doctors at the hospital.
  • The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court directed the police to register an FIR, leading to the booking of the accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994.
  • The accused doctors have been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, wrongful restraint, wrongful confinement, assault, and forgery.

Statistics:

  • The hospital demanded Rs.1.84 lakh in medical bills from the family before releasing the body.
  • The body of 79-year-old patient Babanrao Khokarale remains missing to date.
  • Six doctors and hospital staff have been booked in connection with the case.
  • The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court directed the police to register an FIR, leading to the booking of the accused.
  • The accused have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994.

Sources:

  • "Six booked for culpable homicide in Ahmednagar Covid-19 case". HT Pune, Oct. 20, 2022.