A senior doctor from Mumbai's civic-run Sion Hospital was arrested after a car allegedly driven by him struck and killed a 60-year-old woman on the hospital premises. The incident has led to charges of causing death by negligence under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Dr. Rajesh C. Dere, professor and head of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (Sion Hospital), was arrested following the accident, which occurred on Friday night. The victim, Rubeda Sheikh, was hit by Dr. Dere’s car near gate number 7, adjacent to the OPD building. Despite receiving immediate medical attention, Sheikh succumbed to her injuries.
According to the police, Dr. Dere did not stop after the collision. CCTV footage confirmed that Dr. Dere's car was involved in the incident. As a result, he faces charges under IPC section 304-A (causing death by negligence) and other relevant sections. An investigation is ongoing.
Rubeda Sheikh, a resident of Mumbra near Thane, had been undergoing treatment at Sion Hospital. She had recently undergone surgery and was at the hospital for a follow-up dressing change. Around 11 pm on Friday, while leaving the OPD building, she was struck by a car driven by Dr. Dere.
The police initially had no information about how Sheikh died until they reviewed CCTV footage. The footage showed Dr. Dere’s car hitting Sheikh and him subsequently leaving the scene after admitting her to the emergency ward. The victim suffered severe blood loss from head and leg injuries, leading to her death.
The Sion police launched an investigation after discovering Sheikh’s body near the hospital gate. Initially, hospital authorities did not report the accident, claiming Sheikh was found unconscious. The delay in identifying Sheikh was due to her lack of identification documents and the hospital's uncooperative stance regarding patient records.
Police traced Dr. Dere’s black car, registration number MH 04 LS 5777, leading to his arrest on Saturday night. The charges against him include sections 304A (causing death due to negligence), 338 (causing grievous hurt by an act endangering human life), 279 (rash driving), 203 (giving false information respecting an offense committed), and 177 (knowingly furnishing false information to a public servant) of the IPC, along with section 184 (driving dangerously) of the Motor Vehicle Act.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Prashant Kadam (Zone IV) provided details of the incident, stating that Dr. Dere did not notice Sheikh and ran over her. Following the accident, Dr. Dere admitted Sheikh to Ward Number 20 and placed her on a ventilator without informing the police.
Shahnawaz Shaikh, the victim’s son, was eventually contacted by the police. He registered a formal FIR against Dr. Dere, leading to the doctor’s arrest. The family was informed of Sheikh’s death on Saturday afternoon.
Dr. Dere, who was a key coordinator for BMC Jumbo Covid centers during the pandemic, defended his actions, claiming he was not speeding and attributing Sheikh's death to a cardiac arrest rather than the injuries from the accident. However, the police are conducting a medical examination to determine if Dr. Dere was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.
Dr. Dere is scheduled to appear before the holiday court on Sunday. The case has drawn significant attention due to the involvement of a senior medical professional and the tragic loss of a patient within hospital grounds. The investigation continues as authorities seek to clarify the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident.
(Input from various media sources)
(Rehash/Krisha Shah/MSM)