Two days after a gynaecologist took her life on being charged with killing a patient, the Rajasthan Police on Thursday arrested two persons, including a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, on charges of extortion and abetment of suicide. Archana Sharma, 40, hanged herself at her residence in Dausa district’s Lalsot town, where she owned a hospital with her husband.
Private hospitals, nursing homes and pharmacies in Dausa district continued their suspension of routine services, and markets in Lalsot remained closed, demanding action against those responsible for Sharma’s suicide. The gynaecologist was implicated by the police in a murder case in connection with the death of a pregnant woman during childbirth at her hospital.
BJP State secretary Jitender Gothwal, who was arrested along with another person identified as Ram Manohar, denied the accusation of abetment and said he had been implicated in a false case. He was present in a demonstration staged by the deceased woman’s relatives with her body outside the hospital, alleging negligence by the doctor, and arranged financial assistance of ₹10 lakh for the family.
Mr. Gothwal, a former BJP MLA from Khandar, had recently sent a train ticket to Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, inviting her to visit Dausa, where a Congress MLA’s son and four others were booked last week for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl. The BJP leader had requested Ms. Vadra to see for herself the law and order situation and incidence of crimes against women in the Congress-ruled State.
Mr. Gothwal alleged after his arrest that the State government had taken a revenge against him for booking the train ticket for Ms. Vadra, and had implicated him in the case as part of a conspiracy to hide its own “mistakes and failures”. Police have booked Mr. Gothwal and the other accused under Sections 306 (abetment to suicide), 384 (extortion) and 388 (extortion by threat of accusation of an offence) of the Indian Penal Code.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has removed Dausa Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar, suspended the Lalsot Station House Officer and placed the Lalsot Circle Officer on the “awaiting posting order” status. Jaipur Divisional Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Yadav will conduct an administrative inquiry into the matter.
Those who require assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts may contact Sanjivini, Society for Mental Health suicide prevention helpline 011-4076 9002 (10 a.m. to 7.30 p.m., Monday-Saturday).
