Latest news with #SassoonGeneralHospital
Hindustan Times
31-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Pune Porsche crash: Court rejects temporary bail plea of juvenile's father
A Pune sessions court rejected the temporary bail plea of the father of the juvenile accused in the Porsche crash case, citing his 79-year-old mother's deteriorating health. The accused's 17-year-old son, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, rammed a Porsche into a motorbike, killing two software engineers. (FILE) In an order issued dated July 25 (uploaded on July 28), Additional Sessions Judge KP Kshirsagar observed that there were no justifiable grounds to grant temporary bail at this stage, citing the gravity of the offence, the seriousness of the allegations, and the reasonable apprehension that the accused may tamper with witnesses. The judge also stressed the need to consider the rights of the victims and the larger public interest. The accused's 17-year-old son, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, rammed a Porsche into a motorbike, killing two software engineers. Following the incident, the juvenile's parents, along with senior doctors and staff from Sassoon General Hospital, were arrested for allegedly attempting to manipulate the teenager's blood test reports to indicate sobriety. The accused is facing serious charges under Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code, relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and the Motor Vehicles Act. While his wife is out on interim bail, he remains in judicial custody along with Sassoon Hospital doctors Ajay Taware and Shrihari Halnor, hospital staff, and alleged middlemen involved in the cover-up. The defence argued that the bail plea was based solely on humanitarian grounds. It stated that the man's mother suffers from a severe spinal condition requiring planned lumbar surgery, and as her only son, his presence was essential for making medical decisions and assisting in post-operative care. The defence also pointed out that his father is elderly, his sister lives in Delhi, and his wife is mentally distressed. However, the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) opposed the application, contending that the ailment cited was age-related and not life-threatening. The surgery was elective and pre-scheduled, and other family members were available to assist. The court noted that he had already tried to interfere with the investigation and that his release would likely prejudice public interest and the justice process. The court stated, 'Considering the nature of surgery, the availability of other family members, and the fact that the applicant's mother is not in a critical condition, there is no just ground for the grant of temporary bail.'
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Time of India
Pillion rider dies after truck hits motorcycle in Katraj
Pune: A woman (25) riding pillion on a motorcycle was killed and her husband was injured after a truck hit the two-wheeler at Gujarwadi Phata in Katraj around 10am on Wednesday. The police identified the deceased as Prachi Bagul from Mangdewadi and her husband, Rohit Bagul (28). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The woman was rushed to the Sassoon General Hospital after the accident. The hospital, in its advance post-mortem report, certified internal haemorrhage as the cause of Prachi's death, said senior inspector Rahul Khilare of the Bharati Vidyapeeth police on Thursday. Ashish Rathod (26), the truck driver from Khed Shivapur, was arrested on the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The couple, working in a private firm, was on their way to work when a truck heavily loaded with bricks crashed into their vehicle from behind, killing the pillion rider instantly, sai Khilare, adding that investigations based on information given by witnesses revealed that the truck was ascending a slope from the left side of the road when it suddenly came towards the right side. Its driver lost control over the vehicle and crashed. "We have arrested Rathod for culpable homicide not amounting to murder under the provisions of Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Motor Vehicles Act because the truck was overloaded with bricks. Rathod should have ensured that he drove the vehicle slowly while ascending the slope. He did not take precaution and crashed into the bike," he said, adding that the truck was impounded for RTO inspection.
Indian Express
16-06-2025
- Indian Express
Diagnosing the crisis I From escape of 11 prisoners in 13 years to 2024 Porsche case blood swap, Sassoon Hospital's tryst with infamy
Sassoon General Hospital, a 1296-bed facility which is a cornerstone of public healthcare in Pune and surrounding regions, has repeatedly found itself at the centre of controversy over the past few years. From multiple escapes of undertrial inmates – including drug cartel kingpin Lalit Patil – from its dedicated prison ward, to the blood sample swap by its doctors in the Porsche crash case, the hospital has faced intense scrutiny. As investigations and court proceedings unfold in these matters, the authorities – from the police to the Sassoon Hospital administration – have taken measures to restore credibility through tighter security, procedural reforms, and stricter accountability measures. This string of incidents has not only exposed serious vulnerabilities in security and procedural protocols but also raised troubling questions about the collusion between government employees and influential accused. In the case of Lalit Patil's escape, the security loopholes, unverified visitors, and long hospital stays without medical justification pointed to systemic failures. Similarly, the Porsche crash case revealed how critical forensic procedures were tampered with by senior and mid-level doctors, allegedly to shield the high-profile accused. These incidents had triggered multiple departmental inquiries, suspension of staff, arrests, and a review of standard operating procedures (SOPs), underscoring the pressing need for institutional overhaul. Between August 2010 and October 2023, as many as 11 incidents of prison inmates escaping from police custody at the dedicated ward were reported. In August 2010, two suspected sandalwood thieves – admitted to Sassoon Hospital after their arrest – escaped from the hospital within two days of their admission for injuries. The two were arrested in the third week of September that year. In February 2011, Rohidas Chorghe, who was the main accused in the 2008 murder of real estate businessman Sandeep Bandal, escaped from Sassoon Hospital. He was rearrested in April 2012. In the most sensational of the escapes, in September 2011, Yogesh Raut, the prime accused in a 2010 gang rape and murder case, had fled from Sassoon Hospital when he was brought there for treatment. He was arrested again in May 2013 following a long manhunt. Raut's brother was charged with helping him with the escape. In October 2011, Vinod Lakhan, an undertrial from Yerawada prison facing charges of fraud, escaped from the Sassoon Hospital in the presence of two police guards when he was brought there for treatment of tuberculosis. He was rearrested in the first week of November that year. In September 2016, Somnath Vishnu Raut, an accused booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), escaped from Sassoon Hospital. Officials said that he was arrested later in connection with another offence. In November 2017, a 17-year-old accused in a vehicle arson case escaped from Sassoon General Hospital, where he was brought from the juvenile observation home for a psychiatric evaluation. He was detained later. In May 2018, Akshay Lonare, accused of raping a 15-year-old girl, escaped from Sassoon Hospital. He was caught later and charged under MCOCA. In April 2023, Balu alias Chakradhar Godse, arrested by the Ahmednagar police for illegal possession of firearms, escaped from Sassoon Hospital. He was arrested later. In May 2023, Virendra Sandeep Thakur, arrested by the Pune rural police in a case of theft, escaped from Sassoon General Hospital. Mephedrone cartel kingpin Lalit Anil Patil, who had been in Sassoon Hospital since the first week of June 2023 for treatment of TB and hernia, escaped on the evening of October 2, a day prior to his surgery. He was arrested two weeks later in Chennai by a team of the Mumbai police. The sensational escape had led to a series of corrective actions and multiple arrests, including that of a Sassoon staffer and a prison department guard, among others. After the escape of Lalit Patil, a major overhaul of the security measures at the prison ward was initiated. For the lapses in security, nine cops were suspended, and two of them were dismissed from the service. The state government ordered the Sassoon General Hospital to dismantle the previous prison committee that oversaw and monitored the admissions at the ward. A new committee comprising department heads was formed. When contacted, Dr Eknath Pawar, Dean, Sassoon General Hospital, said, 'We instituted a new committee to review the admissions and cases in this ward. For all the inmates admitted to the ward, a daily report is generated and sent to the superintendent. If the admission extends beyond seven days, a report is sent to the office of the dean with the detailed reasons for the extended treatment. We have also deployed security personnel and necessary security systems at the ward.' A senior officer from the Pune city police said, 'A dedicated police chowki has been planned for Sassoon Hospital. This police outpost will primarily cater to the Sassoon Hospital premises. Once all the necessary logistics are ready, the chowki will be inaugurated. At the same time, we are also in the process of formulating SOPs for various law and order scenarios that may arise at the hospital. Separate SOPs are being formed for dealing with situations arising with medico-legal cases or accused referred to by various jurisdictions like Pune city and Pune rural, among others…' At 2.30 am on May 19 last year, the lives of two young IT engineers – Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta – ended abruptly when a speeding Porsche, allegedly driven by an inebriated 17-and-a-half-year-old from an influential Pune realtor family, rammed into their motorcycle at Kalyani Nagar junction. Dr Ajay Taware, the then head of the forensic medicine department at Sassoon Hospital, was arrested on May 27 along with two others – Dr Shrihari Halnor, a casualty medical officer, and Atul Ghatkamble, a staffer from the hospital morgue – on charges of swapping the blood sample collected from the minor with that of his mother, in exchange for money to help the minor's case. Within a month of the criminal acts being unearthed, Sassoon Hospital authorities earmarked a designated area covered 24×7 by CCTV cameras for the collection of blood samples in medico-legal cases. Sassoon authorities also put in place various SOPs, including regular reviews, random surprise checks, and security and safety audits, for procedures involving medico-legal cases. Sushant Kulkarni is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express in Pune with 12+ years of experience covering issues related to Crime, Defence, Internal Security and Courts. He has been associated with the Indian Express since July 2010. Sushant has extensively reported on law and order issues of Pune and surrounding area, Cyber crime, narcotics trade and terrorism. His coverage in the Defence beat includes operational aspects of the three services, the defence research and development and issues related to key defence establishments. He has covered several sensitive cases in the courts at Pune. Sushant is an avid photographer, plays harmonica and loves cooking. ... Read More
Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Indian Express
Delivery boy injured as country-made pistol ‘misfires' in Pune's Hadapsar
A delivery boy was injured in the Hadapsar area of Pune allegedly after his cousin's country-made pistol misfired on Thursday night. His condition is reportedly stable. The police identified the injured person as Vaibhav Shravan Gawali, 20, a resident of Keshav Nagar in Mundhwa. Officers detained his cousin for further investigation. Sanjay Mogale, Pune-Zone 5, Hadapsar police station, said the pistol and the two-wheeler used by the cousin have been seized. Rajkumar Shinde, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pune-Zone 5, said Gawali, his cousin Sumit Khawale, and friends were headed to a birthday party in Hadapsar on their two-wheelers when the incident occurred. At around 8.15 pm, while they were passing through Canal Road in Hadapsar's Satavwadi area, Khawale allegedly took out a country-made pistol which he possessed illegally. The police said a bullet misfired from the loaded pistol and hit Gawali – who was riding a two-wheeler ahead of Khawale – in the shoulder, leaving him bleeding. Officers said the youngsters initially took him to a private hospital before Gawali was shifted to Sassoon General Hospital in Pune at night for further treatment. On receiving information, a team of police officers rushed to the spot for investigation. Meanwhile, the officers also initiated procedures to lodge a First Information Report (FIR) against Khawale at Hadapsar police station under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act. The police are investigating further to understand why Khawale procured the country-made pistol illegally. In November 2021, Amar Chavan, 34, a resident of Warje Malwadi in Pune, was injured in the stomach after a bullet was misfired from a pistol. A case was registered and three people were subsequently booked on charges of attempt to murder and various sections of the Indian Arms Act. The investigation revealed that Chavan's friend Gaurav Birungikar had illegally procured the country-made pistol. He was allegedly demonstrating the pistol's functioning to Chavan when it misfired.
Hindustan Times
29-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Woman bites off man's ear over dispute
The owner of a girls' hostel and his daughter-in-law physically assaulted three persons found chatting outside the facility in Deccan on suspicion of molesting the inmates on Monday. One of the trio, Milind Vasant Kothari, 40, of Shirole Road, received five stiches as the woman allegedly bit his ears, police said. Kothari lodged a complaint against the hostel owner identified as Suresh Vitthal Kamble, 60, and his daughter-in-law. The complaint states that Kothari is a driver by profession and was chatting with his friends Abhijit Jadhav and Amit Khengre when Kamble, operator of Lokmanya Girls' Hostel, and his daughter-in-law arrived at the spot and picked up a fight with them alleging that they were molesting the girls at the hostel. When the trio denied to the accusations, the duo assaulted and abused the former. In the melee, the daughter-in-law bit off Kothari's ear and attacked him twice with a weapon. The complainant was rushed to Sassoon General Hospital, and he needed five stitches to his ear and two stitches on the stomach. Sub-inspector Pravin Kulkarni said that a first information report (FIR) has been filed, and the accused have been booked under Bharati Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 115 (2),118 (1) and 3(5).
