Pune: Doctor Faces Investigation for ‘Drunken’ Behaviour While Performing Autopsy on Child Killed by Leopard in Junnar

Junnar, 29th September 2025: The health department has launched an inquiry after a medical officer was reportedly intoxicated while attempting to perform an autopsy on a seven-year-old child who died in a leopard attack in Kumshet, Junnar. The incident took place at Junnar Rural Hospital on Wednesday night.

The deceased child, Sidharth Kedar, was brought to the hospital around midnight by his relatives for a post-mortem. Dr. Rajendra Hange, on duty at the time, reportedly appeared unfit to perform the procedure. Relatives and social workers noticed his condition, confronted him, and recorded a video of the incident. They later lodged a complaint with senior health officials, alleging that Dr. Hange smelled of alcohol.

Dr. Hange told the inquiry that he was feeling dizzy due to taking cough medicine for a persistent cough and denied being under the influence of alcohol.

Following the complaint, Pune Circle Deputy Director of Health, Dr. Bhagwan Pawar, appointed an inquiry committee to investigate the matter. The committee is headed by Dr. Srinivas Kolod, Superintendent-in-Charge of Yerwada Regional Psychiatric Hospital, and Dr. Deepak Munde, Superintendent-in-Charge of Supa Rural Hospital.

The team visited Junnar Rural Hospital on Saturday, September 27, to record statements from hospital staff, including the duty nurse, a peon, the complainants, social worker Sandhya Bhagat, and Dr. Hange himself.

The concerned medical officers were working on a contractual basis under the National Health Mission and had been assigned to the hospital three months ago. The inquiry committee will submit a report to the Deputy Director of Health once the investigation is complete.

Dr. Srinivas Kolod, chairman of the committee, said, “Statements of all concerned individuals have been recorded. The report will provide a clear account of the events and help ascertain the facts surrounding the incident.”