A woman working at the Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) has lodged an FIR alleging sexual harassment by a doctor working at the same medical college. The woman, 55 years old, works at the pharmacognosy department of the college. She alleged that the accused, Raju HV, a doctor, touched her inappropriately on several occasions at work.

The FIR was lodged at the Banashankari Police Station. According to the FIR, Raju was junior to the woman and worked under her. However, the college principal, Dr. Anil Kumar promoted Raju to her senior. After promotion, the accused allegedly started harassing the woman. On January 19, the accused allegedly insulted the woman in front of the principal when she was talking to Dr.Kumar at his cabin.

The woman wrote to the principal after the accused was promoted to her senior. Raju barged into the room in which the woman was sitting and threatened her to take back the complaint she gave to the principal. Raju allegedly touched her inappropriately and accused her of sleeping with multiple men in front of other people in the room. The woman has also told the police that the accused doctor had pulled her clothes.

The FIR has been lodged under IPC sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 504 (intentional insult), 354 (assaults or uses criminal force against any woman), and 506 (criminal intimidation). More details are yet to come to light regarding the incident. An investigation is in progress into the case.

Similarly, in December 2023, Dr. Gokulakrishnan, a postgraduate student at Stanley Medical College and Hospital, was suspended until the completion of an inquiry based on complaints of sexual harassment by a female patient. Initial inquiries showed the doctor had failed to obtain written consent before examining her. The victim’s family filed a police complaint, after which the police registered a case involving six sections against the doctor.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Komal Bhoi/MSM)