Ahmedabad, January 31 (IANS). Gujarat’s Ahmedabad Police on Saturday arrested a male staffer for allegedly molesting a female patient admitted in the ICU of a private hospital in Sabarmati area. The officers provided this information.
This arrest took place after the complaint lodged by the victim on January 27.
The accused has been identified as Indrajit Rathod, a resident of Chamanpura in Asarwa area. The accused was working as an employee at Metis Hospital at that time.
According to the first information report lodged at Sabarmati police station, the woman had attempted suicide by consuming sleeping pills, after which she was admitted to the hospital.
Police said that the complainant was under severe mental stress due to marital disputes and was living with her parents for some time.
When her condition deteriorated, she was admitted to the ICU, where she remained in a semi-conscious state under the influence of medicines. The woman alleged that in the early hours when she was in the ICU, the accused came near her and touched her inappropriately.
She said the man took advantage of her condition and repeatedly touched her sensitive body parts.
When he partially regained consciousness and raised an alarm, the accused allegedly fled from the ward.
Sabarmati Police Inspector YR Vaghela said that the case was registered after the victim came to the police and recorded her statement.
Vaghela said that based on the complaint of the female patient, a case of molestation has been registered against an employee working at Metis Hospital. The complainant has stated that the accused took advantage of her weak condition in a semi-conscious state in the ICU.
Police said there was a delay of three months in filing the complaint due to the medical condition and mental state of the woman after the incident.
The victim informed her family immediately after the alleged incident. Her father later requested to obtain CCTV footage from the hospital, but alleged that the hospital authorities initially refused to provide it.
Investigators examined CCTV footage and hospital records, which led to the identification of Rathod as the suspect. Police said that the accused is married and has been working in the hospital for about two years.
No criminal charges have been filed against him yet, although officials said his background is being investigated.
The accused has been taken into custody and further investigation is underway.
Police said they are also investigating whether there was any negligence in the hospital’s procedures and patient safety protocols related to the incident.
–IANS
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