Twist in tale: New video shows receptionist hitting sister-in-law of accused before being attacked

Thane, Jul 23 (PTI) A new twist emerged in the case of assault on a woman receptionist at a private paediatrics hospital in Maharashtra's Thane district after a video of her hitting the accused man's female relative first has surfaced, police said on Wednesday.

Earlier, a viral video showed the accused, identified as Gokul Jha, kicking the receptionist and dragging her by her hair across the reception floor of the paediatrics hospital in Kalyan on Monday evening. He allegedly attacked her after she refused to allow him to walk into the doctor's chamber without an appointment.

The police on Tuesday arrested Jha for the assault.

However, another video has now surfaced which shows the receptionist initiating the physical confrontation by hitting Jha's sister-in-law shortly before she was herself attacked by Jha.

After the incident that occurred at Shree Bal Chikitsalaya in the Kalyan East area on Monday evening, accused Jha fled from the spot and changed his appearance by shaving his beard and trimming his hair. Locals caught him on Tuesday and handed him over to the police, an official said.

Based on the receptionist's complaint, the Manpada police registered an FIR against Jha under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for assault, using obscene language, and outraging the modesty of a woman.

While Jha was on the run, the police had detained his brother Ranjit as well as his relatives who were present in the hospital when the receptionist was allegedly assaulted, the official said.

The receptionist suffered critical injuries and was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dombivli, he said.

On Wednesday, the Kalyan District and Sessions Court remanded Jha in police custody for two days.

According to the police, Jha, his wife, sister-in-law and a child, had come to the hospital to meet the doctor. The receptionist asked the family to wait as the doctor was talking to a pharmaceutical company representative.

During this, an argument reportedly broke out between the receptionist and the Jha family over the order of patient admissions.

During their argument, the receptionist allegedly struck Jha's sister-in-law on the earlobe. Enraged after coming to know about the assault, Jha rushed into the hospital's reception area and severely thrashed her.

However, a new video of the receptionist hitting a member of the Jha family shortly before has given a new twist to the case.

When asked about it, a senior official of 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 got a "migrants versus Marathi" hue with political leaders seeking strict action against Jha.

Talking 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 insisted on swift action.

Shiv Sena's district president Dipesh Mhatre and local MNS leader Raju Patil also sought strict action by police in the matter. PTI COR GK NR NP