Chaos prevailed around the ESI Hospital at Indiranagar on Wednesday afternoon after a doctor working at the hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) allegedly tried to molest the wife of a patient, in an inebriated state. The doctor —an anesthetist- was reportedly beaten up by those attending on other patients at the hospital and rushed to Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital by the jurisdictional police for treatment.

An eyewitness Ramya (name changed), who was attending on another patient at the same ICU, told Deccan Chronicle: “Some of us were sleeping in the corridor outside the ICU ward, when we heard a woman screaming that the doctor had tried to touch her and molest her. The other attendants tried to beat up the doctor. Meanwhile, the Indiranagar police reached the spot and took the doctor away.” Mr Parameshwar, the victim's husband, has been admitted to the hospital's ICU with low blood platelet count which is one of the symptoms of dengue.

After his condition improved, he was shifted to ward number 7 on Wednesday morning. Mr Parameshwar, who was alone, appeared tense and would not comment on the incident. He asserted that nothing had happened and that his wife was not at the hospital when the incident happened and that his mother was attending on him. When Deccan Chronicle contacted the hospital's medical superintendent, Dr Vijaylakshmi, she said that when she reached the hospital, Wednesday morning, she too had heard about the so called incident. “I immediately went to the ICU ward and checked with the doctors and attendants but no one had any complaint to voice.”

Apparently, the anaesthetist, was on the night shift on Tuesday (8 pm to 8 am) and has taken leave for two days. Attempts to contact him proved futile as his phone was switched off. “It is a serious matter, once the doctor returns to work, we will inquire into it. Meanwhile, I will ask night shift nurses in the ICU to meet me Thursday morning. If this is true, we will take necessary action” she added.

Dr Asha, in-charge of the ICU at ESI hospital said: "It is strange. He is a dedicated employee and was always ready to take up challenging cases. He has a wife who is doing her MD at Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) and two kids.”The jurisdictional Indiranagar police said no case has been registered.

“The doctor was taken to Bowring hospital in the early hours of Wednesday to ascertain if he was under the influence of alcohol. We are waiting for the report before coming to a conclusion though we suspect he had consumed alcohol. The doctor has sustained some bruises and it is not clear who was responsible for it. There is no complaint to act on."

“The reports we heard were about a woman who had come along with her husband and was allegedly molested by the doctor who was on night duty. Unless there is a formal complaint, the allegations made against the doctor cannot be investigated. We don't mind investigating if there is a formal complaint. The doctor was sent back after the medical tests,” the police added.

When Deccan Chronicle contacted Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, a source from the hospital said: “The doctor, working with the ESI Hospital, was brought to the hospital by police sometime around midnight with complaints of assault. He had some bruises. The test showed the doctor had consumed alcohol but he was not highly intoxicated.”