Pune: The psychiatric ward of Sassoon General Hospital was abuzz on Monday with talk of an alleged molestation and rape attempt on a patient occurring last week.
The man said to have taken advantage of the patient is Narendra Sale, a senior officer with the Maharashtra Institute of Mental Health (MIMH).
He allegedly molested and attempted to rape a 19-year-old woman admitted to the ward and kept under observation there.
Sale has been absconding since the incident.
An inquiry committee has been appointed to look into the matter. The patient is still in the hospital.
The matter came to light when the patient complained to the visiting doctor the day after the incident. By this week, the matter was being talked about in the corridors of Sassoon.
According to the patient, Sale misbehaved when she went for a check-up, leaving her embarrassed and shocked.
Her father later complained to the doctors at the psychiatry ward and lodged a complaint at the Bund Garden police station.
Though the hospital authorities avoided talking at length about the matter, a few details were available from sources at the Sassoon psychiatric department.
"The attempt to rape did not happen in the ward but at the day care centre of MIMH, which is close to the ward, within the Sassoon premises," a source said.
Alka Pawar, director of MIMH and head of the Department of Psychiatry ward, who is currently on leave, has appointed a committee to investigate the matter.
Sassoon Dean Arun Jamkar said, "We have appointed the Mahila Dakhata Samitee to probe the incident and, if guilty, the accused will be punished."