The Bombay High Court today directed arrest of three policemen who had allegedly assaulted a doctor at a government hospital in Solapur in western Maharashtra, saying that prima facie a non-bailable offence had been committed.
A division bench headed by Chief Justice Mohit Shah asked the investigating officer to immediately arrest the policemen under Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institution (MMSPMSI) Act.
The CCTV footage made out a prima facie case, the High Court said, slamming the government and the police for not taking action so far.
Solapur Police Commissioner, Deputy Superintendent of Police and the investigating officer appeared before the court, which had summoned them for not acting against the policemen despite the court's order.
"Under whose instructions are you acting?...Has someone told you not to arrest the accused?," asked an angry court. The officers remained silent.
"If the action is not taken against the accused, it will amount to supporting an act of violence," the court said.
The bench also asked the Dean of Solapur Civil Hospital to file an affidavit, replying to the allegation that no doctors were available for emergency cases when the incident took place on December 31.
The policemen had beaten up the doctor for allegedly refusing to attend to a woman who was in labour.
The assault led to strike by about 4,000 resident doctors in Maharashtra on January 2.
Court took suo motu cognisance of the strike and issued a notice to Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors, but the strike was called off after the policemen surrendered before a Solapur court.
