MUMBAI, Sept 3: The one-man panel which enquired into the cause of death of Om Prakash Mishra, former BJP Borivli unit leader on August 25, ruled out any negligence by Dr D V Bhagat, honorary surgeon at Bhagwati Hospital and other staff who were on duty at the time of the incident.The BJP had accused Dr Bhagat for being negligent and blamed Mishra's death on him. They had even demanded his arrest.
Dr Y N More, former Medical Superintendent of Cooper hospital who conducted the enquiry submitted his report on Wednesday to Joint Municipal Commissioner S R Dange and Director (Peripheral Hospitals) and Chief Medical Superintendent, Bhabha Hospital, Dr Sheela Pershad. However, the report has been returned since it did not include the statements by Deputy Mayor Gopal Shetty who was present with Mishra at the hospital. Shetty's statements will be recorded tomorrow. However, according to civic sources, it is not likely to affect the report's conclusions. In his report, Dr More stated, ``Proper instructions weregiven to the staff by Dr Bhagat.'' The report also notes the findings of the postmortem report which stated that the aorta, a ``major blood vessel had multiple penetrating injuries'' and about three litres of blood collected in the abdomen and 15 bullet fragments were also removed from his vital internal organs. The hospital had administered all the necessary medical help to revive the patient from the time he was brought in at 5.40 am till 7.30 am when he died, the report observed.
Mishra who was shot around 5.15 am on August 25 in Borivli was first taken to a private clinic , where he was refused treatment and then rushed to Bhagwati hospital. He was not operated since his blood pressure at 60 was too low for anaesthesia to be administered. Following his death, a mob of BJP party members and other supporters of Mishra went on a rampage at the hospital as well as Dr Bhagat's private nursing home causing a loss of nearly Rs 2 lakh. Reportedly, Dr Bhagat is planning to resign from Bhagwati where he had putin over 25 years as a honorary surgeon.
Dr Pershad, when contacted today, however said she had not received the report.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.