Jaipur: A leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and another man were arrested by Rajasthan Police on Thursday over alleged charges of extortion and abetting the suicide of a woman doctor in Dausa district.
According to reports, the victim Dr Archana Sharma had ended her life, complaining of harassment after police booked her for murder following the death of a pregnant woman at her clinic.
Rajasthan BJP secretary Jitender Gothwal and another man, identified as Ram Manohar, were booked under IPC Sections 306 (abetment of suicide), 384 and 388 (extortion).
The BJP leader, however, denied the allegations made against him and said he has been implicated in a false case.
"Police on late Wednesday night came to arrest me from my residence in Jaipur. A false case has been lodged under IPC 306 against me for abetment of suicide of Dr Archana Sharma. It is revenge for sending a train ticket to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi," Gothwal tweeted.
On Sunday, Gothwal had booked a train ticket for Priyanka Gandhi and asked her to take cognisance of a rape complaint against a Congress MLA's son.
Rajasthan Gynecologist Kills Self
The doctor ended by hanging on March 29 inside a room of the hospital after an FIR was registered against her at Lalsot Police Station after family of the pregnant woman demonstrated outside the hospital alleging negligence.
The gynecologist also left a one-page suicide note stressing that she did not commit any mistake and did not kill anyone.
"I love my husband and children very much. Please do not trouble my husband and children after my death. I did not commit any mistake and did not kill anyone. PPH is a severe complication, stop harassing doctors for it this much. My death may prove my innocence," the suicide note read.
"Don't harass innocent doctors, please," the letter added.
Soon after Archana's death, her husband released a video message alleging that she panicked after murder charges were against her and claimed that senior BJP leaders were behind it.
The victim's husband also claimed that state BJP secretary was present when the patient's family was protesting after her death on Tuesday.
Private Hospitals, Nursing Homes Stop Services
After Dr Archana's death, several private hospitals and nursing homes suspended all routine services across the state and demand strict and immediate action against the culprits.
Speaking to PTI, Dr Vijay Kapoor, secretary of an association representing private hospitals and nursing homes, said all routine work, including the OPD services and surgeries, remained suspended across the state.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot took immediate action into the matter and removed district SP Anil Kumar, suspended Lalsot SHO Ankesh Kumar and put Lalsot DSP Shankar Lal under awaiting posting order (APO) status.
Meanwhile, Jaipur Divisional Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Yadav was handed over an administrative inquiry into the matter.