The Hyderabad city police on Sunday arrested a well-known 54-year-old pulmonologist, Dr B Vijay Bhaskar, for allegedly raping and molesting a 24-year-old techie and a 59-year-old woman on different occasions.

The police have filed a case under Section 375(2)(e) of IPC, which is management or the staff of a hospital taking advantage of his official position and committing rape in the hospital, and also booked a case under section 354 of IPC, which is outraging the modesty of a woman.

The 24-year-old techie went to the clinic complaining of cough. Dr. Vijay allegedly touched her private parts in the name of treatment, but she escaped from the clinic and filed the complaint.

The Telangana Medical Council has said that after the complete criminal investigation against pulmonologist Dr Vijay Bhaskar is over, they will take action against him if he is found guilty.

Some pulmonologists in the city are however defending Dr. Vijay. The Deccan Chronicle reports:

Senior pulmonologist Dr C. Vijay Kumar said, “When a patient comes to us with incessant coughs we have to check the front part of the chest and also the back. Similarly, the lower abdomen region is checked when the cough or respiratory problems are continuous.”

Another senior pulmonologist added that while examining a woman patient it is important that a lady nurse or at least an attendant of the patient to be present.

Earlier this year, it was reported that a doctor was arrested for allegedly drugging and molesting a woman patient at a hospital. The 27-year-old woman who had undergone surgery and diagnosed with infection in uterus, complained of severe post-surgical pain. Dr. Venkatesh, who treated her, allegedly drugged and molested her.