Four hospitals under scanner for lending operation theatres to masala salesman-turned-surgeon

A social worker has registered a molestation case against Sonawane (in white) at Bhayandar police station. Pics/Hanif Patel

The hospitals that hired masala salesman-turned-orthopaedic surgeon Hemant Sonawane alias Hemant Patil as a consultant, might face action for allowing the quack to use their operation theatres to perform surgeries, the police have said. The police have lodged one FIR and are in the process of registering more FIRs under attempt to murder cases against him, as he endangered the lives of those he operated on.

Many of his victims have recorded their statements with the police after a series of media reports about him. The 51-year-old Sonawane had been practicing in Vasai since 2018 but the local municipal corporation allegedly turned a blind eye to this. The matter came into light when a local politician approached Mira-Bhayander-Vasai-Virar (MBVV) police chief Sadanand Date, and a civic medical officer registered an FIR against Sonawane. Subsequently Sonawane was arrested.

Hemant Sonawane was a consultant with most hospitals in Vasai, Virar and Nalasopara

Sources have told mid-day that Sonawane was a consultant with most of the hospitals in Vasai, Virar and Nalasopara. "It is not possible to digest that the municipal corporation was not aware of this quackery in their jurisdiction. I have also learnt that a senior civic officer was supporting him. The police must find this person," said a senior government doctor.

Many victims have recorded their statements at Vasai police station after a series of media reports on Sonawane. The police are in the process of registering separate FIRs under attempt to murder cases as their lives have been endangered. Now, the cops are also recording the statements of the officials of hospitals where Sonawane performed the botched up surgeries.

Hospitals under scanner

"We are in the process of recording the statements of owners/directors of hospitals where he (Sonawane) was a consultant, to know the grounds on which he was hired. We are also checking if Sonawane was the choice of hospitals only because he would charge less than a genuine ortho-surgeon as consulting fee," DCP Sanjay Kumar Patil told mid-day.

Hemant Patil alias Hemant Sonawane

"Prime facie, it seems that no hospital will deliberately hire a fake doctor, as their reputation is at stake. We are checking if these hospitals are also victims like the patients. Everything is being investigated as it is a serious matter," Patil added.

"We are also checking what documents Sonawane submitted to these hospitals to be a consultant. If negligence is found on the part of the hospitals, we will report it to the Indian Medical Council for further course of action," Patil added.

Till date, the Vasai police have learnt about four hospitals where Sonawane worked as a consultant or used their operation theatres or got his patients admitted after the life-threatening surgeries.
On Monday, the investigating team took Sonawane to these hospitals to verify his role in the alleged offence.

A source further added, "Most of the victims of Sonawane belong to the lower strata of society and he was publicised by a person who was doing his PR in villages where people cannot question his qualification. The investigating team must work on catching this person too."

Sonawane booked for molestation
The 51-year-old Sonawane, who married five well-educated women besides having affairs with more than six dozen nurses of the hospitals he was consultant at, has also been booked in a sexual assault case.

"On Monday, a 48-year-old social worker registered a molestation case against Sonawane at Bhayandar police station," said Senior Inspector Mukut Rao Patil of Bhayandar police station.

Another woman told mid-day that Sonawane had senther lewd messages on WhatsApp to befriend her in July 2020. "The FIR has been registered under Sections 354A, 354D of Indian Penal Code on Monday," said the source.

All the women Sonawane married did not remarry after they learnt he had cheated them. "He is such a crook that he must be hanged till death. He is insane beyond imagination," said one of the women he was married to. Another victim said, "I am not surprised with this molestation case against him. He is a big time womaniser."