Tantrik performs black magic in ICU, patient dies

Pune: A senior gynaecologist at Pune’s privately-run Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital allegedly invited a tantrik to cure a 24-year-old woman, who had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit in a critical condition. 

The tantrik allegedly performed some procedure to cure the patient, but she died on Tuesday. Her family has now demanded action against the doctor. Social activists have demanded that a FIR should be filed against the gynaecologist under the Anti-Superstition and Anti-Black Magic Act. However, both the hospital and the doctor have denied the allegations. But the video of the tantrik’s act has gone viral. The city police said it will file a FIR against the accused doctor as well as the tantrik.

The Mangeshkar  Hospital public relations officer, Shirish Yedkikar said, “No such acts like black magic are performed at Mangeshkar Hospital. We have security. We will take action if such an incident actually occurred.”

Sandhya Sonawane, who was from Pune, died during treatment at the ICU of Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital, a charitable hospital run by the Lata Mangeshkar Foundation. Singer Lata Mangeskar and her brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar are members of the foundation. It was alleged that since Dr Sunil Chavan was unable to cure Sonawane, he invited a tantrik into the ICU to perform black magic to heal the patient.

Mahesh Jagtap, the brother of the deceased, said, “My sister developed tumors in her breasts due to her pregnancy and delivery of a baby. We admitted her to Dr Sunil Chavan Hospital at Swargate, a month ago. Dr Chavan performed two surgeries but her condition worsened so she was shifted to Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital a week ago.” He added, “Dr Chavan invited a tantrik to cure my sister. He performed various black magic tricks, like applying vermillion and chillies, and so on. When I questioned Dr Chavan, he told me that he had great faith in the tantrik and routinely takes help from him. Since I wanted my sister to recuperate, I did not say a word.”

Mr Jagtap added, “Earlier also, when my sister was admitted to his hospital, he postponed a procedure saying that the period from 6 to 8 pm was influenced by Rahu and was not a good time to perform surgery. All this is shocking. He could not save my sister.”

The accused, Dr Chavan said: “After the patient was shifted to Mangeshkar Hospital, I would visit her regularly. During one such visit, I met a pundit who I knew at the hospital premises. I took him along to the ICU and that is all. Nothing was done.” He added, “The family had requested me to get their bill at Mangeshkar Hospital reduced and I did that. However, today I received a call from them threatening to damage my hospital. I have asked for police protection..”

Rekha Salunkhe, police inspector at Pune’s Alankar police station said, “We are in the process of lodging a FIR against Dr Chavan and the tantrik under the Anti Superstition and Anti Black Magic Act. We will find the tantrik soon and arrest him.”

Nandini Jadhav, president, Maharashtra Andhashradha Nirmulan Samiti, Pune, said, “A senior doctor taking the help of black magic to cure patient is shameful. We want the police to book both doctor and tantric under Anti Superstition and Anti Black Magic Act. Police has right to take suo motu action and lodge an FIR.”

Sachin Taware, a social activist, said, “When I learnt that a tantrik was called into an ICU to cure a patient in a critical condition, I tried to find out about Dr Chavan. The doctor passed out from B J Medical College, Pune and has been running a four-storey hospital at Swargate, Pune for over 20 years.” He added, “When Dr Chavan came to know that the deceased’s family has approached me, he, along with two other doctors came to meet me and offered me money to manage the case. I realised he was an influential person and hence approached the media instead of police.”

In 2014, the then Commissioner of Police, Pune, Gulabrao Pol allegedly used planchette to find out the killers of rationalist and anti-superstition crusader Dr Narendra Dabholkar.