Payal Tadvi Suicide: Police Should Have Informed MCI And MCM About Arrest Of Doctors Says Bombay HC

The Bombay High Court has observed that the police should have informed the Medical Council of India and the Medical Council of Maharashtra about the arrest of doctors Ankita Khandelwal, Hema Ahuja and Bhakti Mehare in relation to the suicide of 26-year-old Payal Tadvi.

All three are third-year resident doctors at BYL Nair hospital and they allegedly tormented Tadvi about her tribal status. On May 22, Tadvi hung herself in her hostel room. She belonged to the Tadvi Bhil Muslim community, a Scheduled Tribe.

The accused doctors were booked under section 306 (abetment of suicide) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and under the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. They have been in prison since May 29.

A Special Court in Mumbai rejected the bail pleas of all three accused doctors on June 24. The accused then challenged the said order rejecting their bail.

Justice SS Jadhav heard the matter, she asked special public prosecutor Raja Thakare whether the police had informed the MCI and the MCM about the case lodged against the three medical practitioners. Thakare replied "No they have not."

"It should have been done", Justice Jadhav quipped.

The investigation should be completed within two weeks, Thakare said.

Thereafter, Justice Jadhav issued notice to Payal Tadvi's mother, the complainant in the case. The matter will now be heard on July 16.

The accused allegedly passed humiliating remarks against Payal Tadvi's picture which was on her friends WhatsApp status. She was even scolded in the operation theatre in front of everyone, the complaint states. The accused have denied the allegations so far.