One of the top medical facilities in Odisha, Cuttack's SCB Medical College and Hospital, has a resident doctor under arrest for reportedly raping two patients on the hospital grounds.

Dilbag Singh Thakur, a Madhya Pradesh native, is the accused. He was subsequently admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) after he was allegedly beaten up by patients' relatives, including some junior doctors who were friends of the victim's relative, who is also an MBBS student at the same medical college.

According to police sources, the incident happened on Sunday after the accused—a cardiology department employee—came into contact with the two patients who had visited the hospital for an echocardiography test.

“According to the complaint, the victims had initially gone for the echocardiogram test on Friday but were advised by the accused doctor to come on Sunday. The standard operating procedure during the test was not followed. A lady attendant or a staff nurse should be present during the test but no one was there. Even though the victims’ relative, who is a medical student requested to remain present during the test, the accused declined the request,” Cuttack Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Anil Mishra told reporters.

According to police sources, the complaint filed at the Mangalabag police station on August 11 contained claims of "penetrative sexual assault," upon which the police launched an inquiry. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 62 (2)(e) was used to register the case.

As part of the inquiry, a female police officer had already taken the victims' statements and the police had also performed their medical examinations.

According to the authorities, over the course of their investigation, they discovered that the victims' echocardiography ought to have been performed on Friday, the day they arrived at the hospital. “The SOP was also not followed as no one was allowed to remain present during the test. Despite the relative of the victims, who is also an MBBS student in the same medical college and hospital requested to be present during the test. It was not accepted, which indicates the intention of the accused based on which we have arrested and produced him before the court of law,” Mishra stated.

In reference to the doctor's claimed beating, the ADCP stated that the accused's family had also reported assault on the accused. “We have also registered a case on Tuesday and is being investigated,” the ADCP stated.

Officials in the state health department said that a three-person committee has been established to look into the occurrence and provide a report to the state government; however, the hospital authorities have not replied to demands for comment.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Priyanka Pandey/MSM)