BENGALURU : Four people were arrested on Wednesday night for allegedly threatening hospital staff and taking a patient away without clearing the bill. The arrests were made based on a complaint filed by Dr Abdul Aziz, who runs Rafi Lifecare Hospital in KG Halli.
Two of the arrested — Salman Sharif and Saidu — are the son and son-in-law of Asgar, the patient. Details of the others weren’ t revealed. According to Aziz’s complaint, Sharif brought his father, an auto driver, to the hospital on May 18. Given Asgar’s condition, he was admitted and treated a s an inpatient. His health gradually improved and the hospital decided to discharge him on May 30. “The patient’s bill was Rs 2 lakh and Sharif had paid only Rs 41,000. When asked for the remaining am ount, Sharif, Saidu and two others abused and threatened the hospital staff at around 11pm on May 30 before taking Asgar away without clearing the bill,” police quoted from Aziz’s complaint.
Mean while, Sharif has lodged a complaint with BBMP alleging that the hospital overcharged him. He has also filed a petition with the DCP (east) alleging that KG Halli police acted on behalf of the hospital and harassed him and his kin.
Cops said the hospital management initially requested them not to file a criminal case if the suspects cleared the bill. “We asked Sharif to pay the bill and sort the issue out, but he approached the BBMP and media, alleging harassment by the hospital and u s,” a police officer said.
Sharif said the hospital’s HR department threatened him with a police complaint when he raised q uestions about the “exorbitant bill”. “. . . Even police threate ned us and were acting as a collection agent for the hospital. The sub-inspector and inspector of KG Halli station appear to be hand in glove with the hospital. . . ,” he stated in his petition.
