HC sends Local Judge to record statement of Doctor who was treated inhumanly by Police and sent to Mental Hospital

The inhuman treatment meted out to anaesthetist Dr Sudhakar Rao by the police in Visakhapatnam took a significant turn with the Andhra Pradesh High Court directing the district sessions judge to record his statement at Vizag mental health hospital where he is undergoing treatment.

The HC asked the judge to submit Dr Sudhakar's statement by Thursday evening. The case has been posted for Friday for further hearing.

It may be recalled that Dr Sudhakar was tied hands behind, beaten, dragged on the highway before being dumped in a private auto. He was charged with creating ruckus on the national highway.

Sudhakar, who works at Narsipatnam government area hospital, was about two months ago, placed under suspension for raising the issue of shortage of masks and PPE kits for doctors.

Even before the doctors at King George Hospital tested him, Vizag police commissioner RK Meena declared that Dr Sudhakar was suffering from psychological issues and was drunk. Later, KGH superintendent Dr Arjun confirmed the same and it was finally endorsed by the superintendent of the mental health hospital.

Earlier, before the incident, the doctor was driving his car down the highway. Sudhakar allegedly used bad language against Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and the police, when the cops arrived there to detain him following an alleged complaint from the public that he was creating nuisance.

The Indian Medical Association has taken serious note of the treatment meted out to the anaesthetist and lodged its protest with the CM. While declaring that it does not accept the language used by Sudhakar against the CM and others, the IMA concluded that Sudhakar was put to mental stress by suspension for raising the issue of shortage of masks and PPE kits for doctors in view of the coronavirus threat.

The IMA asked the government to revoke the suspension and withdraw the case against Dr Sudhakar. It also insisted on a punishment for the errant police personnel.

The Vizag Police commissioner had announced suspension of a constable who beat Sudhakar.

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