A 32-year-old man was allegedly thrashed to death by hospital staff at the Rao Tula Ram Hospital in Jaffarpur Kalan area. Family members of 32-year-old Sonu Kumar approached police on Monday claiming that doctors of Rao Tula Ram Memorial Hospital thrashed him inside hospital premises on Sunday evening after which his health detoriated which finally led to his death on Monday.

Police said the body was sent for post-mortem and probe had been initiated. Police said that it has received a complaint from the family, but not yet registered a case. “We will take a call after the post-mortem report is out,” a police officer said.

Medical superintendent of the hospital Sangeeta Basu, menawhile,denied the allegation, saying: “We have checked the CCTV footage, and there was no episode of any kind of assault, as alleged by the family.” She in turn alleged that the man, had come to the hospital in an “inebriated state”.The hospital authories, it may be mentioned, also complained to police about misbehaviour by Sonu on Sunday.

The medical superintendent said, at around 12 noon on Monday, after examining him, “we referred him to the DDU Hospital, and he was sent in a conscious state, in an ambulance.” Vishal, nephew of the deceased, also gave his version to The Statesman: “Sonu had gone to Rao Tula Ram Hospital on Sunday afternoon as his wife Radhika,who is physically handicapped, was unwell.

While Radhika was being treated, Sonu lost his temper after hearing his ailing wife scream. Hospital authorities had objected to his behaviour.” Vishal alleged that some doctors took him away to a cabin where he was thrashed mercilessly. Later a police officer also came and slapped him. If he was misbehaving then they should have thrown him out of the hospital or called the police but they shouldn’t have thrashed him,”said the nephew.

Radhika was later discharged in the evening and even Sonu was let off. When Sonu reached home he complained of severe stomach ache after which he was first rushed to a health centre in Najafgarh late at night and after few hours to Rao Rao Tula Ram hospital. “Doctors administered injections and later stated that there was an internal injury and he needed to be operated for which he was referred to Deen Dayal Upadhayay Hospital. However, before he could be operated he breathed his last.”