In a shocking incident, a 50-year-old ward assistant was arrested for allegedly molesting a 30-year-old woman inside the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital in Hyderabad. The incident took place on August 26 but came to light after the victim recovered and informed her mother about the same on August 31. The accused, Achuth Rao, was arrested on Sunday by the Banjara Hills police and has been sent on judicial remand.

The incident took place at the Century Hospital in Banjara Hills where the victim was admitted after she developed complications post-delivery. According to the hospital authorities, the victim contracted swine flu post-pregnancy and was admitted in the ICU. She soon developed complications and was put on ventilator support.

According to the Banjara Hills Station House Officer, Kalinga Rao, a complaint was filed by the victim’s husband on Saturday accusing the ward boy of molesting the woman while undergoing treatment in the ICU.

“From the CCTV footage we recovered from the camera installed outside the ICU, the accused can be seen entering the room and coming out in a matter of 33 seconds. The complaint states that the ward boy had misbehaved with the woman who had got inside the room in the pretext of mopping the floor. We have filed a case against the accused under Section 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and he has been sent on judicial remand,” the police officer told TNM.

Speaking to TNM, an administrator at the Century Hospitals told they were first informed of the incident by the victim’s husband soon after which the authorities brought the issue to the notice of the police.

“The victim’s condition was serious and was put on ventilator support. She was also unconscious for a few days. She first reported the incident to her mother after she started recovering. No male staff are allowed inside the room. However, the accused entered the room as he is part of the house-keeping staff. CCTV evidence also shows him entering the room. But we also asked the police to inspect if the woman could have imagined things since her condition was delirious,” the official from the hospital said, adding, “The accused has been fired from service and his contract has also been terminated.”