Molestation in OT of Apollo hospital: Kolkata woman files complaint alleging police inaction – India Today

Four days after a female patient alleged that she was molested inside the operation theatre of a private multispeciality hospital in Kolkata, the victim has now alleged police inaction stating that police have not made any arrests in the case so far.

A 39-year-old woman was allegedly molested by a staffer as she lay in a semi-conscious state in the operation theatre of Apollo Hospital in Kolkata last Thursday. (Representative photo)

By Rajesh Saha: Four days after a female patient alleged that she was molested inside the operation theatre of a private multispeciality hospital in Kolkata, the victim has now alleged police inaction stating that police have not made any arrests in the case so far.

While a complaint about molestation has already been registered at the Phoolbagan police station in Kolkata, the woman has now raised questions about the role of the investigating officer in the case and sent an email to Kolkata’s police commissioner on Tuesday complaining of police inaction.

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A 39-year-old woman, a resident of Beniapukur area in Kolkata, alleged that she was molested inside the operation theatre of a super speciality hospital situated near EM bypass at Kandapara falling under the jurisdiction of Phoolbagan police station in Kolkata.

The woman alleged that after she had undergone gallbladder surgery, a medical staff touched her private parts while she was under the influence of anaesthesia. After she regained consciousness, she noticed marks on private parts of her body.

She filed a police complaint last Friday, based on which police registered a case of molestation under Section 354 of the IPC and launched an investigation. The woman has now alleged police inaction in the case, stating that it has been four days since she filed a complaint but the police have not made any arrests in the case so far.

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Speaking to India Today, the woman said, “In a case where hardly a few people where involved and police said that they are checking CCTV footage, how come they have still not been able to find the culprits?”

The woman also alleged that evidence in the case was being tampered with. “When I went for my tests, the doctor wanted to give the report the same day but the woman investigating officer insisted on collecting the report on Monday morning,” she said.

The complainant raised another serious allegation against police of tampering her forensic report. She told India Today, “I have got to know that now my grope marks and bruises are being claimed to be four to six days old prior to my medical tests. If my bruises were old, how come no nurse or attendant mentioned this while getting me ready for the OT? Why were the doctors, the nurses and the attendants were shocked when I told them about my bruises?”

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Police have refuted all the allegations raised by the woman. A police source said, “CCTV footages are being scrutinised thoroughly to identify the accused. There is no negligence in the investigation from our side.” Another police source said, “The medical and forensic tests of the woman have been done. Her statement before a magistrate has also been recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.”

The woman further told India Today, “Is it because it’s a well-known organization like the Apollo that’s why police wants to wrap up the case or am I to believe that manipulations have been done just because the Apollo has chosen to shut this case through the police department?”

Deputy commissioner of Kolkata Police Priyobrato Roy told India Today, “No one is above the law, no matter how big the accused is. Investigation is underway and evidence is not being tampered with in any way.”

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Regarding the allegation of forensic report tampering, the DCP said, “The forensic medicine department is a separate and independent body. There is no direct relation with the police.”