A case was registered by the Nanded Rural Police against Shiv Sena member of Parliament (MP) Hemant Patil for forcing Dr. S.R. Wakode, the acting dean of the Government Medical College and Hospital in Nanded, where 31 patients died in 48 hours, to clean a toilet and urinals.
A video of the act in which Mr. Patil was seen instructing the dean to clean the toilet went viral on social media. It was reportedly circulated on WhatsApp groups by the MP’s aides. The incident took place at Dr. Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital.
Based on the complaint lodged by Dr. Wakode, Nanded police booked Mr. Patil under Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 500 (punishment for defamation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC, Sections 3(1)(s), 3(1)(r), 3(1)(u), 3(1)(m), and 3(2)(va) of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and Section 4 of the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act, 2010.
Condemning the incident, the Maharashtra chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has threatened to launch a stir if the State Government does not take action against the legislator. They submitted to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde demanding necessary action into the treatment meted out to the acting dean.
“All these patients were admitted in a critical condition at the Nanded hospital which is a tertiary care centre. We request for proper inquiry. However, the treatment given by the local politician and MP to the dean and the HOD of the medical college is not justifiable,” the IMA said, adding that the number of staff at the hospital is inadequate considering the huge footfall of patients.
“We will be forced to launch a Statewide agitation if necessary action is not taken,” the memorandum said.
