Rape in ICU: Husband alleges cover-up attempt

The husband of the 30-year-old woman, who was allegedly raped by a doctor of a private hospital she was admitted to on Sunday, has alleged that the hospital management tried to cover up the incident.

The husband of the 30-year-old woman, who was allegedly raped by a doctor of a private hospital she was admitted to on Sunday, has alleged that the hospital management tried to cover up the incident.

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The court on Monday remanded the accused, Dr Vishal Vanne, 27, in police custody until October 25.

The woman was admitted to Lotus hospital after she complained of giddiness during a visit to a Durga puja pandal.

She was in the intensive care unit where Dr Vanne, the resident medical officer on duty, allegedly raped her. ACP Purshottam Karad confirmed that the woman had been raped.

The woman's husband alleged the three doctors who run the hospital had tried to cover up the incident and made objectionable statements about his wife. "They claimed my wife has mental problems," he alleged.

He claimed the only other patient in the ICU was a cancer patient and was fast asleep. "My wife had been given an injection to sedate her," he said.

The hospital management was not available for comment. Sources said the hospital had decided to discharge all patients and shut down for few days. Hospital authorities said they had informed the police about the incident when the woman's husband complained to them.

Karad said: "We spoke to the management but later got busy due to [Durga] visarjan. We'll speak to them again to find out if there is a case of negligence."

The victim's husband alleged the accused had shown his wife obscene clips and even made a recording of her. He said his wife did not raise an alarm as she feared for her life. "She had been put on oxygen. He could have strangulated her and claimed she suffered a heart attack."

Sources in the family alleged the staff nurse on duty was sleeping outside the ICU at the time. Hospital sources claimed the nurse had suffered an asthma attack and was being treated.

(The names of the victim and her husband have been withheld to protect their identities)