Senior Maharashtra Doctor Booked for Alleged Caste Slur, Instructing Colleague to ‘Kill’ Covid-19 Patient in 2021
A senior government doctor in Maharashtra’s Latur district has been booked following serious allegations that he instructed a colleague to “kill” a Covid-19 patient during the peak of the pandemic in 2021, and also made caste-based remarks during the same conversation.
The accused, Dr. Shashikant Deshpande, who was then serving as the additional district surgeon at Udgir Government Hospital, was booked by the Udgir City Police on May 24 after a complaint was filed by Dayami Ajimoddin Gaussoddin.
His wife, Kausar Fatima, was the patient in question and had recovered after being admitted for COVID-19 treatment in April 2021.
The controversy erupted after an audio clip of a purported phone conversation between Dr. Deshpande and another physician, Dr. Shashikant Dange, went viral on social media earlier this month.
The clip, allegedly recorded during the height of the COVID-19 crisis, captured a conversation in which Dr. Deshpande is heard instructing Dr. Dange: “Don’t allow anyone to go inside, just kill that Dayami woman.” Dr. Dange appears to respond cautiously, mentioning that oxygen support had already been reduced.
According to the FIR, the complainant, Kausar Fatima’s husband, was present during this phone call, which took place while Dr. Dange was having lunch and had placed his phone on speaker mode.
The complainant claims he distinctly heard Dr. Deshpande’s shocking statement and a caste-based slur allegedly directed toward his wife.
Though stunned by what he heard, the complainant said he remained silent at the time as his wife was still hospitalized.
She was admitted on April 15, 2021, to the COVID-19 care center managed by the Udgir Government Hospital and remained there for 10 days before recovering and being discharged.
However, on May 2, 2025, the audio recording of the disturbing exchange surfaced on social media, prompting the complainant to take legal action.
He said hearing the same offensive and derogatory remarks again caused deep emotional distress and violated his religious sentiments, especially the alleged caste-based insult.
Following the complaint, police have registered a case against Dr. Deshpande under sections of the law related to deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings, among other charges.
His mobile phone has been seized, and his statement is currently being recorded, confirmed Udgir City Police Inspector Dilip Gade.
Police have also issued a notice to Dr. Dange, who was reportedly out of town. “He is expected to return tomorrow, after which we will collect his phone and proceed with the investigation,” said Inspector Gade. Authorities are also working to verify the authenticity of the audio clip.
The case has sparked outrage and raised questions about the conduct of senior medical professionals during one of the most critical public health crises in recent history.
