Medical staffer alleges rape inside Bengal hospital, accused arrested

A female medical staffer at a government hospital in Panskura, Purba Medinipur, has accused the facility’s manager of rape.

The prime accused, Zahir Abbas Khan, has been arrested by the police. The alleged incident occurred on Sunday (September 14, 2025) night, after which the survivor, a contractual staffer, filed a complaint at the Panskura Police Station.

Multiple allegations have surfaced against the accused man.

The alleged incident took place at the Panskura Super Speciality Hospital. Later, many women from the facility alleged that the accused used to call women to his room and sexually abuse them.

Allegations first became public on Monday (September 15, 2025), after which the accused was arrested from Kolaghat, 15 km away from the hospital area.

Khan was the head of the contractor company that the survivor worked for. 

The survivor also said that the accused had threatened to kill her if she told anyone. “He called me to his room on the pretext of getting some things. When I refused to go, he threatened me,” the survivor said.  

“This is all a conspiracy against me,” Khan told the mediapersons while he was being taken into police custody. He was produced in court later in the day.

Massive protests erupted at the hospital after staff alleged previous complaints to the medical superintendent were ignored. Locals and staff staged demonstrations outside the hospital on Tuesday (September 16, 2025).

The superintendent, however, said that no one had filed any complaints before. “If our staff do this, then who will we trust? I came to know about these allegations only yesterday. If he has done this, then he should get the harshest punishment by the law,” the superintendent said on Tuesday (September 16, 2025).

Staff has also alleged that Khan has been harassing and abusing women in his room at the hospital for over 4-5 years, however, no action was taken against him.

Leader of the Opposition in the State, Suvendu Adhikari, said he stands with all the victims. “We are in touch with them, we have also organised protests in the area which led to the arrest,” Mr. Adhikari added.

Police confirmed that an investigation is underway.

Local Bharatiya Janta Party leaders claimed that Khan enjoyed considerable influence in the area.

Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said that this incident has no relationship with the ruling party. “Police must investigate thoroughly. I call for strict punishment,” Mr. Ghosh, a former Rajya Sabha MP said.  

This incident has brought back the memories of the rape and murder of a female doctor at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024 which had triggered protests and outrage in Kolkata for several months. A trial court had, on January 20, 2025, convicted former Kolkata Police civic volunteer Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment for the horrific crime.