The doctors, who are already under investigation by the state government following the daring daylight escape of Chhota Shakeel aide Feroze Konkani from the hospital compound on May 7 last year, are also facing a departmental inquiry instituted by the hospital.

Konkani's escape was in fact one in a series of incidents where the hospital's doctors were suspected of abetting undertrials -- some under police escort -- by summoning them on flimsy grounds to assist their escape.

The first inquiry panel set up by the state government and chaired by former dean of KEM Hospital, Dr Pragnya Pai, had zeroed in on the six doctors following a study of the undertrials' medical case papers. The committee, which submitted its report inJune last year, had found that the doctors had summoned the prisoners to the hospital much too frequently, at times for treatment of minor aliments as well.

The state government also recently appointed Dr Mridula Phadke, dean of B J Medical College at Pune, to carry out further investigations. All six doctors were therefore summoned to Pune on Saturday for questioning.

In the meantime, the hospital had issued the doctors showcause notices in July last year apart from chargesheeting them in June this year. If found guilty, the hospital could terminate their services. Action will be taken by the government after its own inquiry is complete.

Dean of JJ Hospital, Dr A C Mohanty, confirmed that the six doctors in question have been debarred from examining prisoners and that a departmental inquiry is underway.

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