Masala salesman-turned-orthopaedic surgeon preyed on women employees

The complainant has alleged that Sonawane would try to lure women to accompany him on long drives, he would also go and sit in the cabin of female doctors and nurses for no reason

The masala salesman-turned-orthopaedic surgeon, Hemant Sonawane alias Hemant Patil, was so sexually addicted that he preyed on female staff of the hospitals where he worked as a consultant, a social worker has alleged. He always waited for female nurses, doctors and housekeeping staff near the washroom of a civic-run hospital in Bhayandar where he was officially appointed by the municipal corporation, said the woman who has registered an FIR regarding molestation against him.

Sonawane, she said, would always watch some videos on his cellphone while waiting near the washroom for women to step out. "He would try to lure females to accompany him on long drives, he would also go and sit in the cabin of female doctors and nurses for no reason. He would also purposely massage the backs and lower backs of women at hospitals. And when I told all this to two senior civic officials, they told me, ‘there is a dearth of doctors in the pandemic. If we sack him now, will you get us another a doctor?' I was shocked," said the complainant.

Hemant Sonawane's visiting cards. Pics/Hanif Patel

The 48-year-old social worker alleged in her FIR on Monday that Sonawane, who at present is in the custody of Vasai police, was appointed as a ortho-surgeon at civic-run Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Hospital in April 2020. "A few days down the line, he began sexually harassing women including nurses, doctors and housekeeping staff," she told mid-day. "I have also learnt that Sonawane would visit the houses of female patients after they got discharged from the hospital," she added.

The social worker said there are 19 other women whom Sonawane tried to woo hard for sexual favours. "But they did not succumb to his lecherous demands. They had also approached Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation's senior officials with their grievances to get him sacked, but they were threatened with the loss of their jobs if they dared to approach police," the social worker told mid-day.

Victims approach social worker

When their grievances went unheard, the victims approached the social worker who is also a member of a hospital welfare committee. The 19 women had run a signature campaign to bring Sonawane's acts to the polices' notice and a copy of it was attached to the complaint submitted at Bhayandar police station in October 2020.

The complainant told mid-day she had visited Bhayandar police station in October 2020 to register an FIR against Sonawane with the signature petition, but "a woman police officer did not register it despite clear instruction from senior officers to book him in a sexual assault case," she said. When asked about this, a senior police officer from the Bhayandar police station said he was unaware of this as he was not posted there that time.

How he harassed complainant

Talking about how Sonawane began to harass her, the complainant said it started with an argument. "I had a heated argument with Sonawane when he laid down Covid-19 patients on the floor when hospital beds were unoccupied. Later, somehow, he found my mobile number and address," said the social worker.

"On July 13, 2020, he called in the afternoon and said ‘you are very beautiful, I want to make you my friend, I love you.' On July 15, 2020, he first texted me at 11 pm saying that as he was an orthopaedic surgeon he wanted to open a hospital. ‘We both can run the hospital,' he mentioned in his late night message," she added.

The social worker further added that once Sonawane also visited her house. "It was so embarrassing for me to see him at my door step. I thought I would test him and showed him medical documents related to my ligament issues. But he told me that he could not understand. I told him that you are not a doctor," she added.

"We will call in everyone present at the hospital when he (Sonawane) allegedly harassed women including the complainant. Our investigations are underway," Bhayandar police station Senior Inspector Mukut Rao Patil told mid-day.