A routine inquiry about a COVID-19 test at a clinic in Bhayander, near Mumbai, turned into a nightmare for Dr. Gayatri Jaiswal, leading to a violent assault, a pan-India manhunt, and finally, a conviction four years later. The assailant, who posed as a potential patient, was sentenced to seven years in prison for the brutal hammer attack and robbery.
The Fateful Day: From Patient Query to Violent Assault
The incident occurred on January 23, 2022, at Dr. Jaiswal's clinic. A man, later identified as Rashid Khan, entered the clinic inquiring about the formalities for an RT-PCR test, claiming he needed it for travel to Dubai. Dr. Jaiswal advised him to bring his Aadhaar card the next day. He left, only to return later when the doctor was alone.
Posing as the same patient, Khan allegedly launched a vicious attack. He struck Dr. Jaiswal multiple times on the head with a hammer before fleeing with her mobile phone, gold jewellery, cash, and ATM cards, collectively valued at approximately Rs 93,000. Found grievously injured by housekeeping staff, the doctor was rushed to the hospital. Medical examination revealed nine wounds on her head from a blunt object, and she remained hospitalized for eight days.
The Two-State Manhunt: Connecting the Dots
With no CCTV inside the clinic, the initial breakthrough came from footage from an adjacent building, capturing the attacker entering and exiting. Local inquiries yielded no results, prompting police to dig into old records of criminals with a similar modus operandi.
This search led them to a 2021 case from Mira Road, where a senior citizen had been attacked with a hammer and robbed. The similarity in the weapon and method pointed investigators towards Rashid Khan. His identity was tentatively confirmed against the CCTV grab.
The trail then went cold until technical surveillance of Khan's call records led police first to Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh and then to West Bengal. He was finally arrested on February 4, 2022, and brought back to Maharashtra. The police claimed to have recovered the hammer used in the crime from UP and traced the stolen jewellery to a goldsmith, whose statement was recorded.
The Trial and the Verdict: Justice After Four Years
During the trial at a Thane court, the prosecution examined 14 witnesses, including Dr. Jaiswal, a patient who saw Khan waiting at the clinic, the treating doctors, and the goldsmith. The defense, a legal aid counsel, challenged the evidence, questioning the delayed recovery of the weapon and the lack of concrete proof linking the jewellery.
However, the court found the evidence, particularly the victim's identification and the corroborative statements, to be sufficient. On October 31, 2025, Rashid Khan was convicted.
The court found him guilty under sections 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt) and 397 (robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) of the Indian Penal Code. Importantly, considering the victim was a medical professional, he was also convicted under the Prevention of Violence Against Doctors, Medical Professionals and Medical Institutions Act, 2019. The combined charges resulted in a seven-year rigorous imprisonment sentence.
This case highlights the persistent threats faced by healthcare workers and the intricate, multi-state investigations often required to solve such crimes. The conviction under the specific law for violence against doctors marks a significant, though delayed, step towards accountability.
