The Metropolitan Magistrate’s court acquitted a 35-year-old doctor who was arrested for assaulting a 44-year-old male Covid-19 patient in a private hospital in Mumbai in 2020.

The patient was against the prosecution during the trial and stated that he was unaware of who the doctor was as he was wearing a PPE kit and was in deep sleep. During his testimony, it was also brought before the court that the patient had filed an application stating he did not have any grievance against the accused.

The court also said that the documents and evidence were insufficient to prove the guilt. The police had registered a case under IPC sections 377 (unnatural offences), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of diseases endangering life) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of diseases endangering life), based on a complaint from the hospital’s HR head.

The court stated that the FIR and the statements of witnesses mentioned the incident on May 1, 2020, in the Covid-19 ward, but they also considered the victim’s testimony and his statement before the magistrate earlier where the patient did not complain of the abuse. Hence, the court acquitted the accused of all charges.

Source:

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mumbai-booked-in-sexual-assault-case-of-male-covid-patient-doctor-acquitted-7841652/