Doctor arrested for alleged rape in Lucknow hospital OT

A 30-year-old doctor was arrested for allegedly raping a 20-year-old woman inside the operation theatre of a private hospital in Lucknow.

The health department sealed the hospital and initiated proceedings for the suspension of the doctor’s licence following the intervention of deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak.

The incident came to light from a private hospital in Indaurabagh area of Bakshi-ka-Talab in Lucknow, where the patient was admitted for treatment of epileptic seizures.

Police said the accused, Dr Vijay Kumar Giri, allegedly raped the student after administering a sedative injection to her inside the operation theatre on May 21.

According to the survivor’s father, his daughter was admitted to the hospital on May 19 for treatment of recurring epilepsy-related complications.

He said that around 3 pm on May 21, his daughter developed breathing difficulty, after which Dr Giri took her to the operation theatre on the pretext of administering oxygen support.

The patient’s elder sister and a nurse initially accompanied her inside the OT, but the doctor asked both to step outside after a few minutes.

In his complaint to police, the survivor’s father alleged that the doctor injected the girl with an anaesthetic through the intravenous cannula attached to her hand, after which she lost consciousness.

According to the survivor’s statement to the police, she regained partial consciousness sometime later and ran out of the operation theatre crying, alleging that the doctor raped her.

Police said the survivor had dropped school for a few years due to her condition and was currently studying in Class 12.

ADCP (North) Twinkle Jain confirmed that an FIR for rape was lodged, adding that relevant sections of the SC/ST Act were also invoked.

Deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak took cognisance and directed strict action against the hospital and the doctor.

In a statement on social media, Pathak said, “The state govt stands firmly with the survivor and her family, and strict punishment to the accused will be ensured.”

He directed officials to seal the hospital and suspend the medical licence of the accused.(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)