AP: Absconding Professor arrested in Doctor Suicide case

Guntur: Dr Lakshmi, Professor, Guntur Medical College, was arrested in Bengaluru on Monday, having been absconding since Dr. B Sandhya Rani, a PG medical student with her department, committed suicide on 27th October, 2016. Dr Rani had left behind a suicide note, accusing the professor of harassment and made the decision to take this extreme step as a result of it.

Lakshmi has been arrested along with her husband Dr Vijaya Saradhi, Vice Chairman, Andhra Pradesh Medical Council. The couple in an attempt to evade being arrested had visited over 16 cities, but were nabbed by the police when they used their debit card for payment of bills at a lodge in Bengaluru reports Indian Express.

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After arresting the professor and her husband, the police produced them in court on Tuesday, along with their son. While the husband and son have received bail, Dr Lakshmi has been remanded for two weeks of judicial custody. The professor has been charged with abetting Dr Sandhya Rani, her student to commit suicide.

Dr Sandhya Rani (27), a post graduate medical student of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics had taken her life by injecting herself with an overdose of Anesthesia. In her suicide note, Sandhya stated that she was ending her life because of the inhuman treatment meted out to her by her professor, Dr Lakshmi. A native of Nalgonda district, Dr. Sandya was about to complete her post graduation in three months. She had joined the Gynecology Department in 2014.

Dr Kamineni Srinivas, Principal GMC, stated that they had received the inquiry committee's report and have directed that action be taken against the professor. The ensuing police chase of the professor at the behest of the court produced no results initially, despite some of the professor's family members having been detained.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police (IG) Sanjay said "Sandhya Rani's diary is a major evidence and will be considered as a dying declaration from her. Except for some technical information, we have obtained all evidence against the accused."

Those who helped her go underground will also be accused for abetting in the crime and action will be taken against them, added police officials.

Lakshmi, in her defence informed the media that Sandhya Rani was not interested in pursuing gynaecology but her husband forced her to take up the course which might have depressed her and drove her to commit suicide. "I have done nothing wrong. I love my students and they too like me. In my entire career, no such allegations were made against me earlier," she said.

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