NCP MLA's Old Recommendation Letter for Doctor Arrested in Pune Car Crash Surfaces
Following the arrest of Sassoon General Hospital's Dr. Ajay Taware in the Pune car crash case, a 2023 letter from NCP MLA Sunil Tingre has surfaced, recommending Dr. Taware for the additional charge of medical superintendent. The Pune police have detained Dr. Taware, the head of the hospital's Forensic Medicine department, Dr. Shrihari Halnor, the chief medical officer, and Atul Ghatkamble, a staffer under Dr. Taware, in connection with the incident.
The tragic accident occurred in the early hours of May 19 in Pune’s Kalyani Nagar area, where a speeding Porsche allegedly driven by a 17-year-old boy struck and killed two IT professionals on a motorcycle. Police assert that the teenager was intoxicated at the time. On Monday, Pune police disclosed that the juvenile's blood samples had been discarded and replaced with those of another individual, showing no traces of alcohol. This led to the arrests of the Sassoon General Hospital staff involved.
Reports suggest that Vadgaon Sheri NCP MLA Tingre intervened to secure favorable treatment for the juvenile driver, though a senior official stated that while Tingre visited the police station, it did not necessarily impact the investigation’s direction.
Tingre’s recommendation letter, dated December 26, 2023, addressed to state medical education minister Hasan Mushrif, endorsed Dr. Taware for the medical superintendent position, highlighting his effective service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mushrif’s handwritten note on the letter directed the hospital's dean to consider Dr. Taware for the role, citing the need for a professor-ranked individual, which the current superintendent did not meet.
On Tuesday, MLA Tingre addressed the emerging controversy, stating, “As a public representative, many approach me for recommendations for various purposes. Each letter specifies that actions should be according to the rules. It’s inappropriate to misinterpret this issue.”
Tingre expressed his confidence in the justice system and anticipated that the inquiry would clarify the situation.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Krisha Shah/MSM)