Dr. Shashikant Deshpande, an additional district surgeon, appointed at the Udgir Government Hospital in Latur during the pandemic, has been booked by the Maharashtra Police for allegedly asking his colleague to kill a COVID-19 patient.
The clip involves a conversation between Dr. Shashikant Deshpande and his colleague Dr. Shashikant Dange, in which Deshpande is heard speaking, “Don’t ask anyone to go inside. Just kill that Dayami Woman”, and in response, Deshpande is heard saying, “the oxygen support has already been reduced.”
Kausar Fatima tested positive for COVID-19 on April 15, 2021 and was admitted to the Udgir Government Hospital in Latur. Ten days later, she was discharged upon recovery. Dayami Ajimoddin Gaussoddin, husband of Fatima, in his complaint, states that he was present at the time and had overheard the exchange between the doctors while sitting beside Dr. Dange, who was eating and had put the phone on speaker. He also told the police that Dr. Deshpande had also made casteist comments and had hurt religious sentiments, but he remained silent, as his wife was in treatment.
Though the woman has recovered from COVID and has been discharged, three years later, the audio has resurfaced on social media, after which her husband, who was also present at the time of the incident, filed a complaint. The investigation is to be followed, the Udgir City Police has informed. Gaussoddin says that recollecting the derogatory remarks again and hurting religious sentiments during a crisis brings him and his family emotional distress
The FIR booked against Deshpande includes sections under deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings and other offences. The Udigur City Police have informed that they have seized Deshpande’s phone and have issued a notice to him to be present for recording the statements.
