NEW DELHI: A new twist has emerged in the case of the assault on a woman receptionist at a private paediatrics hospital in Maharashtra’s Thane district, after a video surfaced showing her striking the accused man’s female relative first, police said on Wednesday. Earlier, a viral video showed the accused, Gokul Jha, kicking the receptionist and dragging her by her hair across the reception floor of the hospital in Kalyan on Monday evening. He allegedly attacked her after she refused to let him enter the doctor’s chamber without an appointment. Jha was arrested by police on Tuesday in connection with the assault. However, a new video now shows that the receptionist may have initiated the confrontation by hitting Jha’s sister-in-law shortly before Jha launched his attack on her. The incident occurred at Shree Bal Chikitsalaya in the Kalyan East area on Monday evening. After the assault, Jha fled the scene and attempted to change his appearance by shaving his beard and trimming his hair. He was later apprehended by locals on Tuesday and handed over to the police, an official said. Based on the complaint filed by the receptionist, the Manpada police registered a case against Jha under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for assault, use of obscene language, and outraging the modesty of a woman. While Jha was absconding, police detained his brother Ranjit and other relatives who were present at the hospital at the time of the incident, the official added. The receptionist reportedly sustained critical injuries and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dombivli. On Wednesday, the Kalyan District and Sessions Court remanded Jha in police custody for two days. According to police, Jha had visited the hospital along with his wife, sister-in-law, and a child for a consultation. The receptionist asked them to wait as the doctor was engaged with a representative from a pharmaceutical company. An argument reportedly broke out between the receptionist and the Jha family over the sequence of patient admissions. During the exchange, the receptionist allegedly struck Jha’s sister-in-law on the earlobe. Enraged upon learning about the incident, Jha rushed into the reception area and assaulted her. The emergence of the new video showing the receptionist hitting a member of the Jha family has complicated the investigation further. When asked about the development, a senior official from Manpada police station said, “Investigation into the case is still underway and based on the evidence, further action will be taken.” Meanwhile, the case has taken on a political dimension, being framed as a “migrants versus Marathi” issue, with several political leaders demanding stringent action against Jha. Speaking to reporters before Jha’s arrest, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s Thane and Palghar districts chief Avinash Jadhav said, “A migrant has beaten up a Marathi woman. We urge the police to take stringent action against him and arrest him.” BJP state president Ravindra Chavan met with Deputy Commissioner of Police Atul Zende late Tuesday night and pressed for swift action. Shiv Sena’s district president Dipesh Mhatre and local MNS leader Raju Patil also called for strict action by the police in the matter.(With agency inputs)
