Mumbai: Doctor runs over patient in hospital premises, killing them

Dr Rajesh Dere (right) Zubaida Shaikh

In a bizarre incident a doctor in Sion hospital has allegedly ran over a 59-year-old woman in the hosptial's premises. An FIR has been registered against Dr Rajesh Dere under Section 304 (a) death by negligence, 279 ( individual who is driving or riding a vechile in a negligent manner and thereby endangering human life). 203 ( giving false information) and other relevant sections of the IPC and motor vechiles act. "The doctor had giving a false statement that the woman had fainted. During investigations, it was revealed that she had met with an accident, " said the police. Dr Dere has since been detained by the Sion Police.

Sources from the police state that they had received information from the Emergency Police Register about the accident but allege that the authorities from Sion hospitals were not cooperating to speed up the process of the FIR. "After receiving information we rushed to Sion Hospital, and informed them that we need the CCTV footage. They kept delaying handing it over to us, forcing us to almost plead with them. Sion Hospital authorities were un-cooperative to say the least. The incident took place near gate number 7 inside of the premises of Sion Hospital," said an officer privy to the events of the case, on the condition of anonymity. According to the police, the Tata Harrier car was allegedly driven by Dr Rajesh Dere and hit Zubaida Shaikh, who had come to the hospital to receive treatment for an injured hand.

While speaking to mid-day, Zubaida Shaikh's son, Shahnawaz Shaikh said that the Sion police had recorded his statement and are in the process of registering an FIR. "My mother had diabetes and had recently undergone a treatment in Sion Hospital, she wanted to come again to Sion hospital to continue her treatment. Four days ago, she left our house in Mumbra and told us that the wound on her hand is not healing and that she's going to get treatment and will stay at a relative's place in Bandra," he said.

"Yesterday night, I got a call at around 3.00 am which I did not receive. When I returned back in the morning the police said that my mother had met with an accident so we rushed to the hospital. The police have not told us who had committed the crime and we demand justice," he added. According to the police, Dere is the Head of the Forensics Department. "Dr Dere was driving the car and we are investigating the matter further," said the police. Dere had told mid-day said that the lady had suffered from a heart attack and that it was his bad luck that she came in front of her car and the incident took place.