Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Jail for Assaulting Woman Doctor During 2021 COVID-19 Pandemic

Thane, November 10, 2025 A court in Thane, Maharashtra, has sentenced a man to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for brutally attacking and robbing a woman doctor during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. The court said the punishment serves as a strong warning against acts of violence targeting medical professionals. The verdict, delivered by Additional Sessions Judge Vasudha Bhosale on October 31, also imposed a fine of ₹20,000 on the accused, Rashid Shakil Khan. A copy of the detailed order was made public on Saturday. According to Additional Public Prosecutor R. P. Patil, the incident occurred on January 3, 2021, when the accused entered the clinic of Dr. Gayatri Nandlal Jaiswal in the Bhayander area of Thane, pretending to inquire about an RT-PCR test. When asked to wait, Khan reportedly got irritated and left, only to return a short while later armed with an iron hammer. Without warning, he launched a vicious attack, repeatedly hitting the doctor on her head. As she fell to the ground, bleeding and unconscious, Khan stole her gold chain, ring, mobile phone, and ₹5,000 in cash before fleeing the scene. The doctor suffered severe head injuries, including a right frontal subdural haemorrhage, a type of brain bleed that can be life-threatening. The court said the injuries clearly amounted to “grievous hurt” as defined under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Judge Bhosale noted in her judgment that even a “small” subdural haemorrhage is a serious medical condition, and the assault had endangered the doctor’s life. The court observed that such violent acts against healthcare workers strike at the heart of public trust and must be dealt with firmly. The accused was convicted under multiple sections of the IPC, including house-trespass with intent to cause harm and robbery using a deadly weapon, as well as under the Prevention of Violence Against Doctors, Medical Professionals and Medical Institutions Act, 2019. The court described the case as a “classic example” of the kind of violence the 2019 Act was designed to curb. It stressed that doctors, who serve society even in times of crisis, deserve safety and respect in their workplaces. “The gravity of the crime demands exemplary punishment,” the court said, “to give justice to the victim, deter others, and send a message that violence against doctors will not be tolerated.” Out of the total fine, the court directed that ₹10,000 be paid to Dr. Jaiswal as compensation for her physical and mental suffering, hospital expenses, and loss of income during recovery. The prosecution presented 14 witnesses to establish Khan’s guilt. The evidence, including medical records and witness testimonies, confirmed the violent assault and theft beyond reasonable doubt. This case serves as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by frontline medical workers during the pandemic, and the urgent need for strict enforcement of laws protecting them from violence and abuse. Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Jail for Assaulting Woman Doctor During 2021 COVID-19 Pandemic A Thane court has sentenced Rashid Shakil Khan to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for assaulting and robbing Dr. Gayatri Nandlal Jaiswal during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. The court also imposed a fine of ₹20,000, stating that the punishment should serve as a warning against violence targeting medical professionals. According to the prosecution, Khan entered Dr. Jaiswal’s clinic in Bhayander on January 3, 2021, pretending to inquire about an RT-PCR test. When asked to wait, he left briefly, returned with an iron hammer, and attacked the doctor, striking her multiple times on the head. He then stole her gold chain, ring, mobile phone, and ₹5,000 in cash. The doctor suffered a right frontal subdural haemorrhage, a serious brain injury. The court held that the assault clearly caused grievous hurt and endangered her life. Judge Vasudha Bhosale said the act demanded exemplary punishment to deter violence against healthcare workers. Khan was convicted under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Violence Against Doctors Act, 2019. The court also directed that ₹10,000 from the fine be paid to the victim as compensation.