Mumbai. The Maharashtra government on Wednesday suspended two doctors of the government-run Sassoon General Hospital who were arrested in connection with the alleged tampering of blood samples of a minor driver involved in a Porsche car accident in Pune. Besides, B J Medical College and Sassoon Civil Hospital dean Dr Vinayak Kale has been sent on compulsory leave and his additional charge has been given to Dr Chandrakant Mhaske. The suspension order was given to Dr Ajay Tawde, professor and head of the forensic medicine department, and Sassoon hospital medical officer Dr Srihari Halnor on the recommendation of the Maharashtra medical education department commissioner.
Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif said, “The state government has received the report of the three-member committee appointed to investigate the allegations. Based on the committee’s report, the Medical Education Department has issued an order to suspend these two officers (doctors).” Dr. Chandrakant Mhaske is the Dean of Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Government Medical College in Baramati, Pune district. Earlier, a proposal was sent to suspend Sassoon Hospital senior doctor Ajay Tawde, who was arrested for changing the blood sample of the teenager accused in the case. Dr. Vinayak Kale had told reporters that the administration sent a proposal to suspend Tawde to the state government immediately after his arrest.
MLA’s son among ‘high profile’ people present in Porsche at the time of accident: Patole
Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Wednesday claimed that some “high profile” people, including the son of an MLA, consumed alcohol in a pub and travelled in the same Porsche car that hit two IT professionals in Pune ten days ago. According to the police, the minor son of a builder was driving the car after consuming alcohol in Kalyani Nagar area. Speaking to reporters, Patole also claimed that a “car race” was going on at the time of the accident. He demanded a CBI probe into the matter and asked the police to “reveal” the names of the people present in the car.
The Congress leader said, “Car race was going on. Some high-profile people were travelling in that (Porsche) car after drinking alcohol in a pub.” Patole questioned, “Who is the minister who called the police station and who is the MLA whose son was present in the car?” He demanded a statement from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on the incident.
The minor driver of the car has been sent to remand home till June 5, while his father and grandfather have been arrested by the police on charges of obstructing the investigation. At the same time, the Maharashtra government suspended Dr. Ajay Tawde and Dr. Shrihari Halnor of Sasoon General Hospital on charges of changing blood samples in the case.