Molested in ICU during 'check-up'

Doctor forced mother of three-month-old admitted in the ICU to undergo a physical check-up as well; he allegedly assaulted her sexually and fled the scene

The police arrested a doctor from a nursing home in Vakola yesterday for allegedly molesting a 26-year-old on the pretext of checking her.

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Dr Naravade allegedly asked Asha to undress and touched her inappropriately

The victim's son was admitted at Dattaraya Nursing Home in Vakola. The accused, Dru00a0 Narendra Naravade, a doctor at the clinic, allegedly told her that she would have to undergo a checkup along with her son.

"My son was admitted in the intensive care unit of the clinic located at the Dattamandir Road in Vakola. On Tuesday night, I stayed back with my son at the clinic," said the victim Asha (name changed).

In her statement to the police, Asha said that at 7.30 am, while patients in the ICU were asleep, a doctor woke her up and told her that they had to take her son for a checkup.

Asked to undress

"After his checkup the doctor told me to get myself checked as well. I said that I did not have any illness but he insisted anyway. He began touching me inappropriately.

I attempted to resist but he drew the curtains to the ICU section, asked me to undress, and molested me, " said Asha.

"After the incident, I told a nurse at the clinic about the molestation and reported the matter to a senior doctor, Rakesh Duggal, who contacted my husband. By then Dr Naravade had fled," she added.

Officers from Vakola police station said that Asha, mother of two, is a resident of Rankahan Patel Chawl in Santacruz.

Her three-month-old had caught cold and fever five days ago, following which he was admitted at the clinic.

The Vakola police have arrested the doctor from his house at Vakola, and charged him under Section 354 for molestation.
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"We will record the statement of the doctor and the other staff of the nursing home," said Anil Kharade, senior police inspector.

Police are ascertaining whether the clinic is registered with the BMC, which has been asked to provide details, said a police official.