Pune Porsche Accident: Minister Hasan Mushrif Denies Involvement in Blood Test Tampering Allegations, Threatens Defamation Case Against Dhangekar
Reported by Tikam Shekhawat
Pune, 27th May 2024: Congress MLA Ravindra Dhangekar has alleged that two doctors at Sassoon Hospital were operating under the influence of Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif. These allegations emerged after the minor child’s blood test was tampered with in the Kalyani Nagar Porsche car accident case.
Minister Mushrif has expressed his anger over these claims and has demanded an apology from Dhangekar. He warned that if Dhangekar does not apologize, a defamation suit will be filed. Mushrif addressed the media today regarding the matter.
Mushrif stated, “Those who tampered with the blood sample have been arrested. The investigation has indicated that the change was made on the advice of Dr. Taware. We will obtain detailed information from the police investigation and dismiss those involved accordingly.”
Mushrif continued, “Dhangekar, an MLA from Pune, has a habit of making sensational claims. If he does not apologize within two days, I will file a defamation suit. Between May 11th and 24th, I was on a foreign tour and not in the country when this incident occurred. This is the third such incident at Sassoon Hospital since I took charge of the Medical Education Department. Dean Thakur was removed in the Lalit Patil drugs case, another person was suspended, and an inquiry committee was appointed for the second incident involving a rat. Now, this is the third case. Dhangekar should get his facts straight. He is making these allegations because he knows he will be defeated in the Lok Sabha elections.”
Mushrif also called for the confiscation and examination of the arrested doctors’ phone records.
Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar today informed, “The blood samples were initially tested to determine if the minor responsible for the accident had consumed alcohol. A sample from a person who had not consumed alcohol was falsely presented as the minor’s. The resulting report showed no alcohol in the minor’s blood, arousing police suspicion. A second test, conducted later, found alcohol in the minor’s system. DNA tests confirmed that the blood samples from both tests were different, suggesting that the hospital doctors had tampered with the evidence to protect the minor.”
The doctors arrested are Dr. Ajay Taware, head of forensic medicine department, and Dr. Shrihari Harnol, CMO, both of whom are being interrogated by the Pune Crime Branch. Dr. Taware is the Head of Sassoon’s Forensic Department. The police have seized the phones of both doctors. It was revealed that the minor’s father contacted Dr. Taware following the accident. The investigation is ongoing.
