05 October,2023 07:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
The tattoos that the survivors were allegedly manipulated into getting Dr Yogesh Bhadra Bhanushali works with a government hospital. The survivors have also accused him of taking their cash and jewellery
The Malwani police have arrested a doctor, Yogesh Sunil Bhadra Bhanushali, 33, on charges of sexual assault. While the arrest comes after a 21-year-old complained to the police about him, another 23-year-old also approached them. The lawyer of these complainants has claimed that two more women, aged between 21 and 24 years, have come forward with allegations against Bhanushali. They have accused the doctor of sexually assaulting them on the promise of marriage.
The lawyer has claimed that the survivors revealed that the accused manipulated them into tattooing his name onto their bodies, promising them commitment and marriage. One survivor had even tattooed his name on her private parts. The initial complaint lodged by the 21-year-old led to Dr Bhanushali's arrest on September 29. Subsequently, the Malwani police registered another rape case, filed by the 23-year-old who alleged that the accused had also sexually assaulted her on the pretext of marriage and taken approximately Rs 3.5 lakh from her.
The police said the doctor, who has a house in Malwani, befriended all these women through Instagram. The 21-year-old, in her statement to the police, disclosed that she had initially connected with the doctor through Instagram, and their friendship evolved into a romantic relationship. She claimed the doctor asked her to meet him at his home, falsely claiming that he would introduce her to his family members.
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At his residence, however, he orchestrated a sham marriage, even putting a mangalsutra around her neck, and engaged in a sexual relationship with her. He also borrowed Rs 60,000 from her. She claimed their relationship continued for a while but later the doctor abruptly severed all contact with her. Realising that she had been deceived, she filed a complaint with the Malwani police last month.
The 23-year-old told mid-day, that she had also befriended Dr Bhanushali on Instagram the previous year. They exchanged contact numbers and began chatting. He promised marriage and introduced her to his family at his home. She visited his residence several times, where she claimed he raped her and also took cash and her gold chain, citing personal needs as an excuse.
The accused also compelled the two survivors to meet, claiming to each that the other was pursuing him for marriage. When they finally met in court, they discovered that he had deceived both of them. He even pleaded with folded hands to the second survivor, imploring her not to file a complaint.
The women have implored the authorities to ensure that the fraudster is held accountable and incarcerated to prevent him from ruining the lives of more girls. They have sought the harshest punishment for him.
Rafique Gori, the legal representative of the two women, told mid-day that Bhanushali has previously faced legal trouble. "In 2020, he was charged with sexual harassment by the Shivaji Nagar police for his inappropriate conduct towards a 25-year-old doctor at the Shivaji Nagar COVID-19 jumbo facility centre in Pune. In the same year, the Malwani police had also registered a case against him, this time on charges of rape and under the POCSO Act," Gori said.
"Two more women have come forward, accusing the accused of rape on the pretext of marriage. Some of these survivors have even endured the additional trauma of being manipulated into having the accused's name tattooed on their bodies. In an exceptionally distressing case, one has the accused's name and photo tattooed on her private parts. Both these survivors are determined to pursue legal action," he said. "The accused was arrested by the police last week on charges of rape. An FIR has been registered under various charges," said SI Chimaji Adhav from Malwani police station.
