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Two arrested over Rajasthan doctor’s suicide as protests continue
Jitendra Gothwal and Ram Manohar have been booked under the Indian Penal Code (IPC)’s Sections 384 (extortion), 388 (extortion by threat of accusation), and 306 (abetment to suicide).
JAIPUR: Two people, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jitendra Gothwal, have been arrested for allegedly abetting the suicide of a doctor in Rajasthan’s Dausa district, police said on Thursday.
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The doctor was found dead at her residence on Tuesday, a day after she was booked for negligence and murder of a pregnant woman who died during treatment on Monday.
Widespread protests broke out across Rajasthan after news of the doctor’s extreme step came to light. Demanding action against the culprits, private hospitals and nursing homes continued the suspension of all routine services across Rajasthan on Thursday.
Gothwal and one Ram Manohar have been booked under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 384 (extortion), 388 (extortion by threat of accusation), and 306 (abetment to suicide).
In a tweet, Gothwal said he was arrested late on Wednesday night from his residence in Jaipur. “A false case has been lodged under IPC 306 against me for abetment of suicide...” He called his arrest a “revenge” for sending a train ticket to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and asking her to come to Rajasthan to take cognisance of a rape complaint against five including a ruling party lawmaker’s son.
Four IPS officers, including Dausa SP Anil Kumar and Dholpur SP Shiv Raj Meena, were transferred on Thursday over the incident. The transfer orders were issued by the department of personnel of the state government hours after chief minister Ashok Gehlot directed officials to remove the Dausa and Dholpur SPs.
Also Read | In Rajasthan doctor suicide case, CM says case against those who harassed her
Three Lok Sabha members also raised the issue of the doctor’s death in Parliament.
D N V Senthilkumar (DMK), who holds an MBBS degree, said such incidents could also disturb the doctor-patient ratio in the country. There was a need to distinguish between medical negligence and medical complications, he said.
Jaskaur Meena, who represents Dausa in the lower house, slammed the Congress government in Rajasthan for creating an atmosphere against the doctor following the death of a patient following a delivery. She also questioned the need to book the doctor under stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and said the deaths -- of the patient and the doctor -- have shattered two families.
She alleged that while the state government has failed to prevent crimes against women, including rapes, a doctor was booked under stringent provisions of the criminal law.
Umesh Jadhav, also of the BJP, said doctors should not be harassed like this.
The doctor’s husband had issued a video statement on Wednesday saying she died by suicide for fear of being jailed. He accused BJP leaders of protecting the accused Balya Joshi, who allegedly mounted pressure on police to lodge a murder case against the doctor couple , but the saffron party has denied the allegation.
Also Read | ‘Didn’t kill anyone’: Doctor blamed for patient’s death leaves suicide note
An FIR under IPC section 302 was lodged against the two doctors at the Lalsot police station on Monday night after which, the doctor took the extreme step on Tuesday.
He added that the family of the woman who died on Monday in the hospital was convinced that his wife made all efforts to save her and that they took the body home for cremation. He said some people brought them back with the dead body to the hospital after assuring them that they will get compensation. He alleged those involved in the matter enjoyed the patronage of senior BJP leaders and claimed Gothwal was among those who protested outside the hospital.
In her note, the doctor purportedly wrote: “I love my husband and children very much. Please do not trouble my husband and children after my death. I did not commit any mistake and did not kill anyone. PPH is a severe complication, stop harassing doctors for it this much. My death may prove my innocence.” She also wrote, “Don’t harass innocent doctors, please.”
She stated that the patient had died of post-partum hemorrhage.
Rajasthan health minister Parsadi Lal Meena said a murder case cannot be lodged against the doctor. “Action will be taken against whosoever is responsible.”
