AP HC DIRECTS SESSIONS JUDGE TO RECORD STATEMENT OF SUSPENDED GOVERNMENT DOCTOR ALLEGEDLY MANHANDLED BY POLICE

The Andhra Pradesh HC has directed the Sessions Judge of Vishakhapatnam to record the statement of Dr. K Sudhakar Rao, a suspended government doctor allegedly manhandled by the Police in public.

The HC has further directed the Judge that, they personally visit the Government Hospital for Mental Health in Visakhapatnam where Dr. Rao has been admitted and to submit his statement by Thurday evening.

The bench was hearing a petition seeking an investigation in to the way Dr. Rao had been mishandled by the Visakhapatnam Police and his subsequent arrest and admission to a mental hospital.

Two months ago Dr. Sudhakar Rao, a Civil Assistant Surgeon, Area Hospital, Narismhapatnam was suspended for publicity criticizing the failure of the government to provide N-95 masks to the doctors treating COVID-19 patients.

Thereafter, he was arrested on May 16 under Section 353 of IPC for assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty and Section 427 of IPC for causing mischief, where he was seen shirtless being dragged by the Police, the video of which has gone viral on social media.

Dr. Rao was admitted to King George Hospital where he was found inebriated and was referred to Government Hospital for mental Health where he is undergoing treatment for acute and transient psychosis.

Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association in a letter addressed to the Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Reddy has condemned the mishandling of Dr. Rao by Police.

By Shubhi Singhal of Law College Dehradun