Who Is Dr Raghav Nirula, Accused Of Assaulting A Patient At Shimla Hospital?

Last Updated:December 23, 2025, 13:03 IST

A controversy erupted in Shimla after a patient was allegedly assaulted by a doctor at a government hospital in the district, leading to protests and outrage

IGMC Medical Superintendent Dr Rahul Rao confirmed that a case has been registered against the accused doctor and that he has been suspended with immediate effect. (News18 Hindi)

A serious controversy has erupted at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, following allegations that a doctor assaulted a patient inside the hospital premises. Statements from both sides have now emerged with a video of the incident going viral, and the matter has reached the highest levels of the state government, prompting swift administrative action.

The patient, Arjun Panwar, a teacher from Jubbal village in Kupvi area of Shimla district, told mediapersons that he had come to IGMC for an endoscopy. After the procedure, he was advised to rest for two hours and undergo an X-ray. While lying on a bed in an empty ward, Panwar alleged that the doctor spoke to him rudely. When he requested the doctor to behave politely, asking whether he spoke in the same manner at home, the situation escalated. According to Panwar, the doctor accused him of getting personal and then physically assaulted him.

Panwar claimed he was hit while lying on the bed, suffered a nosebleed, and is still experiencing breathing difficulties. He said he would approach the police and seek strict action. His family alleged that this was not an isolated incident and claimed there had been two or three prior complaints against the same doctor for misbehaviour with patients.

The accused, Dr Raghav Nirula, a 31-year-old pulmonary medicine specialist on contract at IGMC and a native of Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district, offered a different version. Speaking to reporters over the phone, he claimed that when he went to speak to the patient, an exchange of comments took place. He alleged that the patient responded aggressively, asking, “Do you know who I am?", after which two others intervened with remarks questioning how he spoke at home and to his father.

Dr Nirula said the argument spiralled into a physical scuffle. He also denied substance abuse, stating that he goes to the gym daily and does not consume sugar or drugs.

Another doctor seen in the video, identified as Nikhil from Rewari, Haryana, clarified that he was only trying to help and restrain the situation but inadvertently appeared in the footage while holding the patient’s leg.

Following the incident, IGMC Medical Superintendent Dr Rahul Rao confirmed that a case has been registered against the accused doctor and that he has been removed from duty and suspended with immediate effect. He said the hospital administration became aware of the incident after the video surfaced and that a detailed report has been sought by Monday evening. Dr Rao also stated that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has taken cognisance of the matter from Delhi.

State Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil, Health Secretary M Sudha, IGMC Medical Superintendent Dr Rahul Rao, and Acting Principal Dr Anupama Jogta held a high-level meeting to review the incident. After the meeting, Shandil said such behaviour by a doctor is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. He described the conduct as inappropriate and said a committee has been constituted to conduct a thorough inquiry. “If required, the doctor could even be dismissed," the minister said, adding that strict measures would be taken to prevent similar incidents in future.

The case has drawn sharp public attention because Dr Nirula was once praised for exemplary conduct. In October 2023, while posted at Nahan Medical College, he had earned widespread appreciation for personally accompanying a critically ill 22-year-old asthma patient from Sirmaur district to PGI Chandigarh in an ambulance, despite no such requirement under standard referral protocols. At the time, he was widely hailed as a dedicated and compassionate doctor.

Meanwhile, Panwar’s family has said they will meet the Shimla Superintendent of Police to demand the addition of an attempt-to-murder charge, claiming the assault was life-threatening. They also plan to approach the Health Minister, accompanied by Chaupal MLA Balveer Verma. Tension was reported at the hospital after the incident, with protests outside the accused doctor’s room and the deployment of additional police forces following scuffles between protesters and police.

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