Boisar police arrested Prashant Sankhe, a local worker for the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday 9 May 2021 for physically assaulting staff and damaging property at Thunga Hospital. The violence was perpetuated by the accused over the alleged “charging of inflated medical bills” at the COVID-19 facility which is currently treating 34 Coronavirus patients. Hospital staff which includes doctors and nurses have threatened to “go on strike” if the accused is not placed under arrest.
What happened?
The accused had reportedly come to the hospital at 11:00 AM to mediate in a supposed case of ‘over billing’ between the hospital and the relative of a coronavirus patient who was ready to be discharged. An argument ensued following which the accused was said to have slapped a hospital staffer before proceeding to destroy a computer and shatter the some of the hospital’s glass windowpanes. The medical staff went to lodge a complaint with the Boisar police and demanded that a First Incident Report (FIR) be filed against the accused and that they would go on strike if the accused was not placed under arrest.
What the police are doing Senior Police Inspector (Sr.PI) Pradip Kasbe from the Boisar Police Station has informed the media that the accused was arrested under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC); IPC Section 353 (Obstructing a government servant on duty), IPC Section 332 (Assault) and Sections three and four of the Doctor’s Protection Act. The accused was scheduled to appear before the court today. The allegation of inflated medical bills is being investigated by Boisar police. Two relatives of the discharged COVID-19 patient are currently in the wind, with Boisar police actively on their trail.