A fast-track court in Panaji has relaxed the bail condition imposed on a doctor accused of raping a woman in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a private hospital in Goa last year, permitting him to continue his Doctor of Medicine (MD) course at the same hospital.
Court's Ruling on Hospital Visits
The presiding officer of the special court in Panaji, Pooja Kavlekar, stated: “After completing his degree and allied procedures, the accused shall not visit the hospital without court permission for any other reason till the matter is disposed of.” This ruling modifies the earlier condition that barred the doctor from visiting the hospital entirely.
Background of the Case
The doctor was arrested in May 2025 and subsequently released on bail in October. One of the original bail conditions prohibited him from visiting the hospital or attempting to influence any witnesses. However, the doctor approached the court with a submission that he had enrolled in a Diplomate of National Board (DNB) course in general medicine at the hospital in 2023 but had not attended any sessions since September 2025. He informed the court that he received a show-cause notice from the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences in April, warning that his admission would be terminated if he remained absent for over a year.
Court's Reasoning
The court acknowledged the sensitivity of the survivor's condition and emphasized that justice must prevail. However, it noted that it would not be possible to “complete the case within one month” as the survivor had not yet appeared before the police to record her statement. “This case, therefore, will take years to culminate,” the court observed, and decided that under such circumstances, the doctor could not be kept out of the hospital indefinitely.
Additional Conditions Imposed
While relaxing the bail condition, the court imposed several safeguards. The doctor is prohibited from contacting nurses and doctors named as witnesses in the chargesheet, except for professional purposes. He is also barred from tampering with any documents or evidence related to the case that may be present in the hospital. The court's order aims to balance the rights of the accused to pursue his education with the need to protect the integrity of the investigation and the survivor's interests.
