Chennai, March 21: The mystery over the death of A. Raja associate A.M. Sadhick Batcha simmered some more today with the doctor who conducted the post-mortem announcing his resignation from government service.
The Tamil Nadu government, though, was quick to reject Dr V. Dekal’s resignation citing a shortage of experienced forensic specialists.
Dr Dekal, 48, a forensic surgeon at the Government Hospital in Royapettah, told reporters his resignation had nothing to do with Batcha’s death on March 16. He said he had put in his papers on March 3 citing his decision to contest the April 13 Assembly elections as an Independent — a claim borne out by this paper’s enquiries.
The doctor added that since he had not been relieved, he was continuing in his job and had performed the autopsy on Batcha.
Police sources said Dr Dekal, who had indicated the final autopsy report might come out in a fortnight, was under pressure to go slow so that the results would be out only after the elections.
A health official alleged that Dr Dekal had “used (his desire to contest) the election as an excuse” to speed up his discharge from service, which normally takes at least three months. “In reality, he plans to move to a private medical college as a teacher.”
Dr Dekal denied he was running away from the case. He said any doctor who had conducted an autopsy was responsible for a case till it was wrapped up.
“Till my death, I am responsible and will do my duty and will appear in court whenever required,” he said.
Batcha, 44, was found hanging at his home in Chennai less than two hours before he was to fly to Delhi
“There was no need to detain the body at Apollo for more than an hour or to repack it. It is possible the body was cleaned, removing crucial body fluids secreted during death.”
Even if the clothing is found now, it would have been contaminated and cannot be used as evidence, he said
Dr Dekal had recommended further tests and sent the skin tissues and organs for examination. He is said to have insisted on seeing a video copy of the post-mortem that the police had recorded, but was apparently refused.
He had also asked for Batcha’s clothes that would have contained excrements crucial for the autopsy. Batcha’s clothing had been removed at Apollo Hospitals, where the body was wrapped in a white cloth before being sent for post-mortem.
“This is not the correct procedure. A body has to be sent for autopsy in the clothes worn at the time of death,” a senior pathologist said.
“There was no need to detain the body at Apollo for more than an hour or to repack it. It is possible the body was cleaned, removing crucial body fluids secreted during death.”
Even if the clothing is found now, it would have been contaminated and cannot be used as evidence, he said
Courtesy:The Telegraph
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