Hyderabad: Well-known pulmonologist Dr B. Vijay Bhaskar, 54, was arrested on Sunday by the Gopalpuram police for allegedly raping and molesting two patients.
Dr Bhaskar allegedly committed the offence on a 24-year-old techie and a 59-year-old woman on different occasions. Police said that after patients entered the consultation room, he would make them feel comfortable and then proceed to molest them.
Last Friday, a 23-year-old techie from West Marredpally came to the clinic complaining of cough. In the guise of treatment, he allegedly touched her private parts saying that was part of the treatment. She resisted and escaped from the clinic and lodged a complaint with the police.
“After the news of the case spread, another woman who faced the same situation in the clinic 15 days ago also lodged a complaint,” said Gopalpuram inspector S. Ramchandra Reddy, adding that the second victim had heard of the case from her friends.
A case under IPC Section 375(2)(e) (management or the staff of a hospital taking advantage of his official position and committing rape in the hospital) was booked against the doctor on the complaint of the techie.
On the complaint by the 59-year-old woman, police booked a case under IPC Section 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman). Dr Bhaskar was sent to judicial remand. Police said more victims may come forward after knowing of his arrest.
Dr Bhaskar had started Bhaskar’s Chest Clinic opposite the Regional Passport Office, Secunderabad in 2005. He had earlier been chief of pulmonary medicine in corporate hospitals.
City doctors said that he was the first to get the highest degree of Doctorate of Medicine in Pulmonary Medicine, in India.
