KEM hospital ward boy arrested for allegedly molesting patient's mother

A ward boy employed with Parel-based King Edward Memorial hospital was arrested for allegedly molesting a woman whose son was admitted for treatment. The incident took place in the wee hours of Saturday, following which a complaint was registered with the police and the accused was arrested.

According to the Bhoiwada police, the woman, 38, is a resident of Shrivardhan in Raigad, whose son has been admitted at KEM hospital in ward 7 since July 19. A ward boy went to the woman and told her that the medical papers of her son were ready and that she would have to collect them from the room next to the operation theatre. When she reached the room, the accused, Dheeraj Tambe, 33, was waiting for her.

"Tambe took the woman to a room next to the operation theatre, made her sit there and touched her hand inappropriately. Later, when he tried bolting the door, did the woman realise what was happening and ran out of the room screaming," said Sunil Tondwalkar, senior police inspector, Bhoiwada police station. Tondwalkar further added, "The people at the hospital caught hold of Tambe and handed him over to the police."

Tambe has been charged with IPC sections 354 (assault or criminal force to outrage the modesty of a woman) and 354 B (intent to disrobe a woman). He was produced in the Bhoiwada metropolitan court on Saturday morning and remanded to police custody for a day. Police said they have recorded the statements of the ward boy who summoned the victim to the OT, as well as other patients around the ward, as witnesses.