Mumbai: The Mumbai police have booked three women doctors attached to the state-run BYL Nair Hospital for allegedly driving a junior tribal colleague to suicide. An FIR has been registered against doctors Hema Ahuja, Bhakti Mehare and Ankita Khandelwal for allegedly mocking Dr Payal Tadvi, an ST student, in person and on WhatsApp groups. Dr Payal Salman Tadvi, a resident doctor who was pursuing gynaecology, was found dead in her room on May 22 at BYL Nair Hospital.

Three doctors who Tadvi had accused of harassing her before she killed herself are on the run. They allegedly made fun of her caste and posted derogatory messages on a WhatsApp group. She had even complained to the hospital authorities about them but the hospital failed to act against them. Tadvi had even informed her family members, including her husband Salman Tadvi, who works as an assistant professor with Cooper Hospital in Vile Parle. Family members claim Payal had told them that the three used to harass her as she had joined the college on a reserved seat.

“They have switched off their mobile phones, but we are questioning their families and will soon find them,” a police official said. The three allegedly escaped from the hostel as soon as the police arrived to investigate the case, sources said.

“Based on the report, we will initiate appropriate action against them. As of now, the MARD has suspended the three doctors,” Dr Bharmal said, while denying the claims of the victim’s mother Abeda Tadvi that she had complained to the hospital administration against three doctors but no action was taken.

A colleague of Ms Tadvi said her mother had indeed complained to the management. “If the management had acted on time, her life could have been saved and the career of the three doctors would not have gone wasted,” the colleague told NDTV, asking not to be identified.