Pune: Ruby Hall Clinic Faces Criminal Complaint Over Death of 9-Year-Old Girl

Pune, 20th September 2026: The Court of Samruddhi P. Narvekar, Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Pune, has taken cognizance of a private criminal complaint concerning the death of nine-year-old Rhea Rohan Lobo. In its order in Sunil Lobo v. Purvez Grant and Others, the court directed that the matter be registered as a Regular Criminal Case and ordered the issuance of summons to the accused, returnable on 19 October 2026.

The complaint was filed by Rhea’s uncles, Sunil Savio Lobo and Neil Lobo, who are represented by Advocate Aashuutosh Srivastava. The complaint alleges negligence in the treatment provided to the child at Ruby Hall Clinic, Wanowrie, and subsequently at Ruby Hall Clinic, Sassoon Road, Pune, between 27 December 2021 and 9 January 2022.

The accused named in the proceedings include individuals associated with the hospital’s management, medical and nursing administration, and clinical treatment.
After the complaint was filed in 2022, the complainant was examined on oath under Section 200 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. An inquiry under Section 202 was subsequently conducted through the Koregaon Park Police Station.

According to the police report dated 22 April 2026, the treatment records were referred to an Expert Committee at Sassoon General Hospital. The complainants have relied on a communication from the committee dated 4 March 2026, which, according to them, recorded a prima facie opinion of medical negligence concerning treatment provided by Dr Vaibhav Meshram. The allegations and the material relied upon by the complainants will be subject to examination during the proceedings.

Speaking about the order, Advocate Aashuutosh Srivastava, appearing for the complainants, referred to the family’s pursuit of the matter since 2022 and the material collected during the police inquiry.

“The learned JMFC has considered the sworn verification and the documents on record and has found sufficient prima facie grounds to proceed against the accused. The order enables the complainants to place their evidence in a Regular Criminal Case. The family seeks a fair judicial examination of the treatment given to Rhea and the circumstances of her death. They have full faith in the Court. The accused will have an opportunity to present their defence, and the final merits will be decided accordingly,” Srivastava said.

The complaint refers to a CT scan report dated 30 December 2021, which, according to the complainants, recorded findings suggestive of ARDS or pulmonary oedema. They allege that treatment continued on the basis of a suspected bacterial infection and that an outside medical opinion recommending ventilator support was obtained only on 7 January 2022.

The complaint states that Rhea was placed on a ventilator that evening and transferred on 8 January 2022 to the main Ruby Hall Clinic unit on Sassoon Road, where a paediatric intensive-care facility was available.

The complainants have also alleged an oxygen leakage incident on 6 January 2022 and a stoppage of oxygen supply on 7 January 2022. They have raised concerns regarding the response to monitor alarms, nursing observations and the alleged non-availability of paediatric ventilatory equipment at the Wanowrie unit.
According to the complaint, the family repeatedly sought incident reports relating to the alleged oxygen-supply incidents.

In its order dated 19 September 2026, the court recorded that it had perused the complaint, the complainant’s verification and the documents produced along with it, and had heard the advocate appearing for the complainants. The court also recorded that the complaint was filed within the prescribed period of limitation.
Based on the complainant’s statement and the material placed on record, the court held that sufficient prima facie grounds existed to proceed with the case. It took cognizance under Sections 269, 304-A, 336, 338, 426 and 120-B read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

The court has directed registration of the complaint as a Regular Criminal Case and issuance of summons to the accused. The accused will have an opportunity to appear before the court, respond to the proceedings and raise their defences in accordance with law. The next date mentioned in the order is 19 October 2026.
When contacted, Manjusha Kulkarni, Legal Advisor at Ruby Hall Clinic, said, “We have no knowledge of this matter. We have not received any summons till date.”