Hospital denies allegations, video of tantrik’s act goes viral

A senior gynaecologist at Pune’s privately- run Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital allegedly invited a tantrik to cure a 24- yearold woman, who had been admitted to the ICU in a critical condition.

The tantrik allegedly performed some procedure to cure the patient, but she died on Tuesday. Her family has now demanded action against the doctor.

Social activists have demanded that a FIR should be filed against the gynaecologist under the Anti Superstition and Anti Black Magic Act.

However, both the hospital and the doctor have denied the allegations. But the video of the tantrik’s act has gone viral.

The city police said it will file a FIR against the accused doctor as well as the tantrik.

The Mangeshkar Hopsital public relations officer, Shirish Yedkikar said, “No such acts like black magic are performed at Mangeshkar Hospital. We have security. We will take action if such an incident actually occurred.”

Sandhya Sonawane, who was from Pune, died during treatment at the ICU of Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital, a charitable hospital run by the Lata Mangeshkar Foundation. Singer Lata Mangeskar and her brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar are members of the foundation. It was alleged that since Dr Sunil Chavan was unable to cure Sonawane, he invited a tantrik into the ICU to perform black magic to heal the patient.

Mahesh Jagtap, the brother of the deceased, said, “Dr Chavan invited a tantrik to cure my sister. He performed various black magic tricks. When I questioned Dr Chavan, he told me that he had great faith in the tantrik and routinely takes help from him. Since I wanted my sister to recuperate, I did not say a word.”