New Delhi, May 12: Two days after Dr P Venugopal took charge as Director at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the institute seems to be embroiled in a fresh controversy. In a written complaint to Dr Venugopal, Dr T D Dogra, Dean (Exams), who served as acting director of the institute while the noted cardiac surgeon was away, has alleged “misbehaviour” at the hands of doctors in the director’s office last week.

Asking for “protection” and fearing “physical violence”, Dogra has asked for earned leave from May 12 to May 15 and summer vacations from May 16 to July 2. He has alleged that Dr Venugopal “did not object even once while they were insulting and humiliating the senior most professor of the institute”.

In the complaint, sent directly to Dr Venugopal, on May 10, Dr Dogra has alleged that Dr B K Khaitan, president of the Faculty Association of AIIMS, and Maninder Singh, legal counsel for Dr Venugopal, “made highly derogatory, abusive and insulting remarks on me.

I came to your chamber and complained regarding the misbehaviour of Dr Khaitan and Singh”.

Dr Dogra says the remarks were made after he was called to the director’s (Dr Venugopal) chamber and was asked for examination cell files pertaining to selection of senior residents at the institute. “After being insulted, humiliated and threatened of dire consequences, I left your chamber. Because of their aggressive behaviour, facial expression and the abusive language, I along with my family feel threatened of physical violence. Therefore, I request for necessary protection and action in the matter,” the complaint says.

When contacted Dr Dogra said, “I stand by the complaint I have made. Under the circumstances, it’s not feasible for me to continue working at AIIMS,” he said. He also added that there has been no response from the director’s office as yet.

Dr Khaitan, when contacted, said: “I haven’t heard of any such complaint. I can comment only after I have seen a copy of the complaint.” Dr Venugopal could not be contacted for his comments.