Hyderabad: Pulmonologist Sentenced for Sexual Assault

Held guilty for sexually assaulting a woman, a renowned Pulmonologist based in Hyderabad, got sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment by XI Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge at Nampally Criminal Courts.

Apart from the jail term, the Sessions Court on Monday has also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on the 55-year-old doctor. The renowned doctor, Dr. B. Vijay Bhaskar, was the first candidate for getting a doctorate degree in pulmonary medicine in India.

The doctor had been operating the Bhaskar's Chest Clinic opposite to the Regional Passport Office in Secunderabad. Back in 2016, when a 59-year-old patient approached the doctor for treatment, he allegedly assaulted the patient in his Secunderabad clinic in the name of performing a medical procedure.

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As per the latest media report by Deccan Chronicle, the concerned victim was a regular patient of the doctor. When she went to the doctor back in May 2016, the doctor allegedly touched her private parts claiming that it was part of the treatment.

Initially, the patient believed him. However, back in October 2016, when she approached the doctor again for treatment, she noticed a young woman was inside the doctor's chamber along with her mother and she was quarrelling with the doctor.

After the patient asked the young woman, she informed that the doctor had also touched her inappropriately and abused her sexually. Therefore, the victim patient lodged a complaint before the Gopalapuram police station.

While commenting on the matter, a police officer told the Indian Express, "The woman's husband complained to the police and said the doctor had misbehaved and sexually assaulted his wife more than once when she had gone to his clinic with Asthma-related complications."

Following this, the doctor got arrested and was sent to judicial custody. Consequently, the doctor got booked under Sections 376 (sexual assault) and 354 (assault or use of criminal force to any woman, intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby outraging her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code in 2017.

The matter came for consideration before the court after the chargesheet was filed by the police. After listening to the victim, other witnesses, and taking note of the evidence, the Sessions Court found the doctor guilty and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years.

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