Two doctors have been arrested for allegedly tampering with evidence and altering blood samples of a teenage driver involved in a fatal crash in Pune. The incident, which occurred on May 19, resulted in the deaths of two IT professionals. Following the crash, the minor was taken to Sassoon General Hospital for medical tests.
Dr. Ajay Taware, head of the hospital’s Forensic Medicine department, and Dr. Shrihari Halnor, the chief medical officer of the state-run hospital, were detained alongside Atul Ghatkamble, a hospital staffer. Atul Ghatkamble is reported to have received Rs 3 lakh for facilitating the sample swap.
Upon arrest, the Pune Crime Branch recovered Rs 2.5 lakh from Dr. Shrihari Halnor and Rs 50,000 from Atul Ghatkamble, who worked under Dr. Ajay Taware. The origins of the cash received by Atul Ghatkamble remain unclear.
During a court hearing in Pune, a public prosecutor revealed that the accused had misused their positions for financial gain, destroying the original blood samples of the juvenile and replacing them with those of another individual. The court has remanded the three accused to police custody to enable further questioning.
Investigations revealed that the initial blood samples, which showed no alcohol presence, were replaced, raising suspicions. Subsequent tests at a different hospital and DNA analysis confirmed the samples had been switched, prompting suspicions of tampering by hospital staff to shield the juvenile driver.
In response, the Maharashtra government has appointed a three-member panel to investigate the incident. Medical Education Commissioner Rajiv Nivatkar has instructed Dr Vinayak Kale, Dean of Sassoon General Hospital, to fully cooperate with the inquiry.
This case underscores the critical need for stringent protocols and oversight in medical and forensic procedures to ensure the integrity of evidence in legal matters.
