Nagpur Medical College Professor Faces FIR Following Sexual Harassment Complaint
Background of the Complaint
Days after a first-year female postgraduate student at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College & Hospital (Mayo) lodged a sexual harassment complaint against the Head of the Forensic Medicine Department, the police have initiated a First Information Report (FIR) against the accused professor based on preliminary findings.
Allegations Against the Professor
The postgraduate student accused the professor of enduring mental torment, inappropriate gestures, and undue favours over the past nine months. She reported that upon refusing his requests, he insulted and humiliated her, even allegedly threatening to cancel her postgraduate seat. The harassment reportedly persisted for an extended period, prompting her to seek police assistance.
Response from Medical Associations
The FIR was filed after the Central Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) and IGGMC MARD Nagpur called for immediate police action. Dr. Suyash Dhavane, General Secretary of Central MARD, along with Dr. Aditya Thete, President of IGGMC MARD, met with the Nagpur Police Commissioner to emphasize the urgency of converting the complaint into an FIR. The Medic Helpline warned that any delays could jeopardize the investigation and allow the accused to influence witnesses or tamper with evidence.
Details of the Allegations
The professor has since been booked, and an investigation is currently underway. Sources close to the accused professor suggested that he is known to be strict and has faced opposition from some students. According to the complainant, the harassment began between February 3 and November 19, 2025, when the professor allegedly started troubling her at work.
She reported that he frequently called her into his cabin, requested her to sit close, and spoke in a low tone, making her uncomfortable. In one incident, he allegedly asked her to remove her apron during a discussion about her synopsis. Additionally, he instructed her to come to work in an “unusual manner,” which she found inappropriate and humiliating.
Impact on the Complainant’s Well-Being
The doctor stated that whenever she refused to comply with his directions, the professor publicly scolded and insulted her, threatening to ruin her career if she did not obey. She reported feeling belittled in front of her colleagues, which significantly affected her mental health, leading to frequent emotional breakdowns. She alleged that he dismissed her distress as mere acting and advised her to stop pretending.
According to a report by TOI, the complainant also claimed that the professor made inappropriate remarks about her clothing and makeup, and touched her inappropriately during an autopsy procedure in front of other medical professionals.
Support and Actions Taken
In one instance, when the complainant approached the professor for a leave request, he allegedly required her to submit a false complaint against another associate professor in exchange for approval. Furthermore, she claimed that she is not the only victim; three other junior doctors have also experienced similar harassment and are now supporting her.
Encouraged by her colleagues, the doctor decided to escalate the matter. She submitted a written complaint to Mayo Hospital Dean, Dr. Ravi Chavan, before bringing the issue to the police. An internal complaint committee and medical education authorities are currently investigating the case.
Legal Proceedings and Background of the Accused
Based on the complainant’s statement and preliminary findings, the Tehsil Police have registered a case against the professor under multiple sections of the law. The accused is expected to be summoned for questioning soon. A senior police official indicated that there were similar allegations against the senior doctor in 2015, which had previously caused considerable uproar.