Mumbai: State medical body opens probe into Dr. Viral Desai's case

Cosmetic surgeon Dr Viral Desai stands the chance of losing his medical licence if charges against him are proven as the Maharashtra Medical Council has taken cognisance of middays reports that highlighted allegations of rape against the celebrity doctor A TV actress earlier this month had accused Desai of raping herMMC president Dr Utture Shivkumar Shankar who has been reading middays reports on Dr Desai said that the council will revoke his licence if he is found guiltyThe MMC president said We have written to the investigating agencies to provide details on the matter as the allegations levelled against Dr Desai are highly serious in nature and MMC takes cognisance of such reports published in the mediaEthical committee members of the MMC will thoroughly conduct an inquiry and if Dr Desai is found guilty necessary disciplinary action will be taken within the ambit of Maharashtra Medical Council Act 1956 Dr Shankar told middayAlso ReadMumbai Crime Rape accused doctor used to blackmail victims tooIt is made clear in the Indian Medical Council Regulations that any complaint with regard to professional misconduct can be brought before the appropriate medical council for disciplinary action Upon receipt of such a complaint the medical council will hold an inquiry and give an opportunity to the registered medical practitioner to be heard in person or by a pleader said a senior medical practitioner in MumbaiIf the medical practitioner is found to be guilty the council may direct the removal altogether or for a specified period from the register of the name of the delinquent registered practitioner A decision shall be taken within six months she addedDr Utture Shivkumar Shankar MMC presidentAbuse of professional position by committing adultery or improper conduct with a patient or maintaining an improper association with a patient will render a physician liable for disciplinary action said a senior gynaecologist requesting anonymityThe TV actress caseThe TV actress who accused Dr Desai of rape said that he first botched up a procedure on her face and then forced himself on her inside the changing room of his clinic on August 9 She filed a rape case against him but he was not arrestedI want to teach a lesson to such a culprit and decided to file a complaint before the state medical council to debar Dr Desai from the medical profession I will not keep quiet until severe punishment is given to him said the TV actressHer counsel Satish Agarwal confirming the development said I have received instructions from the actress to file a complaint before the medical council and have accordingly prepared the draftThe PR team of Dr Desais clinic told midday that the cosmetic surgeon and the TV actress were dating each other for the last three yearsThe Santacruz police said that the court last week directed them against taking any coercive action against Dr Desai up to September 5We have recorded statements of the victim Dr Desai and are collecting further evidence an officer saidAlso ReadMumbai Crime He forced himself on me in changing room of clinicMurky pastDr Desai has been accused of sexually abusing his women clients on multiple occasions In 2017 he had molested a woman medical practitioner who visited his clinic with her husband for treatment Under the pretext of giving her treatment Dr Desai allegedly molested her She filed a molestation case against him but he was never arrested He had recently approached the Bombay High Court to quash the molestation case registered at Santacruz police station Dr Desai was also accused by his wife divorced of domestic violence before seeking a divorce from himAlso ReadWoman allegedly gangraped for asking refund of the cut money accused at largeAug 9The day Desai allegedly raped the TV actressCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates