The office of the Charity Commissioner in Pune has taken decisive legal action, filing a formal case against the trustees of the prestigious Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and Research Centre. This move comes in connection with the tragic death of a seven-months pregnant woman, Tanisha Bhise, who passed away on March 31, 2025, following alleged lapses in her treatment at the facility.
The Tragic Sequence of Events
Tanisha Bhise, who was expecting twins, initially consulted gynaecologist Dr. Sushrut Ghaisas at the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital. On March 21, 2025, she was admitted to Indira Hospital in Viman Nagar due to high blood pressure and stomach pain. A week later, on March 28, doctors at Indira Hospital, anticipating a premature delivery, advised her immediate transfer to a facility with a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Instead, the family took Tanisha to Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, where Dr. Ghaisas confirmed the need for an immediate pre-term delivery and NICU care for the twins. The situation took a distressing turn when, as per the First Information Report (FIR), Dr. Ghaisas allegedly demanded an advance payment of Rs 20 lakhs (Rs 10 lakh per child) for the NICU facility. He provided a written note on the hospital's letterhead, signed by him, asking for a deposit of Rs 10 lakhs.
Alleged Refusal of Treatment and Fatal Delay
The family pleaded with the doctor and the hospital's billing department, offering to pay Rs 3 lakhs immediately and promising the remainder later, requesting that treatment begin without delay. However, the hospital allegedly refused admission until the full Rs 10 lakh advance was paid. Dr. Ghaisas is accused of telling the family to seek treatment at the government-run Sassoon Hospital if they could not pay.
After a wait of approximately five and a half hours without receiving the critical "Golden hour" treatment, the family moved Tanisha to Sassoon Hospital, where they faced further difficulties, including a lack of a wheelchair. She was subsequently taken to Surya Hospital in Wakad, where doctors began treatment. Tanisha gave birth to twin girls on March 29, but her health deteriorated. She was shifted to Manipal Hospital in Baner, where she died on March 31.
The FIR alleges that the delay in initiating crucial treatment at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital directly led to complications and her eventual death.
Legal Repercussions and Official Inquiry
The incident sparked major public protests in April last year. The Pune city police had already registered a case of negligence against Dr. Sushrut Ghaisas under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on April 19, based on an inquiry report from Sassoon Hospital.
Now, the Charity Commissioner's office has initiated a suo motu inquiry and filed a case against the hospital's trustees. Joint Charity Commissioner Rajani Kshirsagar confirmed that the case was filed before a magistrate court in Pune on Friday. The inquiry was conducted by a special committee led by Deputy Charity Commissioner Dr. Rajesh Pardeshi. The case will be heard by a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court in Pune.
This legal action underscores the serious allegations of systemic failure and highlights the ongoing scrutiny of private healthcare protocols, especially concerning emergency care for pregnant women.
