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32-year-old woman in ICU sedated, then raped by hospital staff in Rajasthan
A 32-year-old woman was allegedly raped by a nursing staff at a medical college ICU in Alwar after being sedated. The hospital administration reportedly tried to suppress the incident until police action was initiated.
India Today News Desk
New Delhi,UPDATED: Jun 8, 2025 07:19 IST
Edited By: Akshat Trivedi
In Short
- Victim was sedated before assault, family waited outside ward
- Police registered FIR after survivor informed Additional District Magistrate
- Investigation underway, accused to be arrested; hospital promises strict action
A 32-year-old woman was allegedly raped by a nursing staff member inside the hospital’s ICU ward on the night of June 4 in Rajasthan. The accused, identified as Subhash Gathala, was later suspended by the college administration, though no arrest has been made yet.
According to the FIR, the victim was administered a sedative injection before being sexually assaulted. At the time of the incident, curtains had been drawn around her ICU bed while her family waited just outside. The woman, in a semi-conscious state, began calling out names, prompting staff to summon her husband. Although she attempted to recount the incident, she was unable to speak clearly due to the sedative's effects.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Mahavir Singh said, “A man filed a complaint saying that his 32-year-old wife, who was admitted to the ICU of ESIC Medical College, was raped by the nursing staff on the night of June 4. The accused had drawn curtains around the bed and injected the woman with sedatives before sexually assaulting her. The woman was semi-conscious and resisted the act. When she began crying out her husband’s name, the ICU staff brought him in. Though she tried to tell him about the incident, she could not speak clearly due to the sedation. Eventually, she fell asleep.”
A witness, who is the husband of another female patient admitted to the ICU, also alleged that “the nursing staff committed a wrong act at night.”
The survivor’s husband initially approached the college administration, but officials allegedly tried to suppress the matter. According to the complaint, the accused even apologised in front of officials, yet no immediate action was taken. The matter gained momentum only after the woman informed the Additional District Magistrate, who promptly directed police to act.
Following this, the police registered an FIR, conducted the woman’s medical examination, and recorded her statement. “The accused first injected her with a sedative, rendering her unconscious, and then raped her,” the victim said in her video statement to the police. Authorities have begun examining CCTV footage and interrogating other ICU patients. The survivor’s official statement under Section 164 of CrPC is expected on Monday, after which the arrest process will begin.
Dr Aseem Das, Dean of ESIC Medical College, stated, “As soon as we received information, we formed an investigation team. The team will submit its report by Saturday. Strict action will be taken against whoever is found guilty.”
The administration has suspended Subhash Gathala, who was posted in the surgical ICU, and informed the ESIC headquarters. On the night of the incident, seven out of eight ICU beds were occupied, including three by female patients.
Meanwhile, political parties have begun weighing in on the matter. Congress leaders, including state party president Govind Singh Dotasra, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, and Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully, have condemned the incident and criticised the government's silence. The survivor’s family has also alleged that they are receiving pressure through phone calls related to the case.
