The Maharashtra government on Wednesday directed Dr. Vinayak Kale, Dean of the BJ Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital in Pune, to proceed on compulsory leave following the Pune Porsche car crash incident.
This directive was issued shortly after Kale held a press conference in Pune, where he announced punitive measures against three Sassoon staff members who had been arrested by the Pune Police.
During the press conference, when questioned about Ajay Taware’s appointment as superintendent, Kale referred to remarks made by Medical Education Minister Hassan Mushrif and a recommendation letter from MLA Sunil Tingre.
“I only followed the orders given to me by the minister,” Kale said in response to questions about Taware’s appointment despite his controversial history at the hospital.
He explained that the position of superintendent is intended for a professor, and at the time, it was held by an associate professor. “Hence, when I received the minister’s remarks, which have been widely publicised, I appointed Dr. Taware as superintendent,” Kale added.
Orders issued late on Wednesday evening indicated that Kale, as the head of the institution, failed to grasp the gravity of the situation and did not monitor it effectively.
Additionally, in a separate order, the state government suspended Ajay Taware, the medical superintendent at Sassoon General Hospital, and terminated Shrihari Halnor, the casualty medical officer, for their alleged involvement in the case. Taware is accused of instructing staff to discard a blood sample and manipulate the alcohol report of the minor driver involved in the May 19 Porsche car crash.