Kathmandu, November 28

Nepal Medical Association, issuing a press release today, condemned police action of arresting Dr Rohit Kumar Jha of Medicity Hospital, who was accused of attempting to rape a woman a few days ago. NMA said arrest of Dr Jha was against the rule.

According to the NMA, Penal Code Amendment Bill, authenticated on 15 April 2019 stated that doctors if found indulged in criminal activities should first be investigated by a probe committee formed by it. Action should be initiated against a doctor only after the Nepal Medical Council writes to the District Attorney if its five member probe committee finds him/her guilty. Dr Mukti Ram Shrestha, the NMA president said, “Action taken by the police was against the rule.”

A 30-year-old woman who had gone to the hospital for whole body check-up, on November 24, had filed an FIR accusing Dr Jha of attempting to rape her. Police had arrested Dr Jha the same day from the hospital.

Senior Superintendent of Police Tek Prasad Rai, at Metropolitan Police Range, Lalitpur said it was the duty of police to arrest accused as per direction of the district court. “We have lawfully kept him at police custody after getting permission from the district court,” SSP Rai said.