Balaghat: A case has been registered of alleged rape by former Block Medical Officer (BMO) of Lanji Community Health Center Dr Pradeep Gedam on the orders of the High Court after a woman accused she was raped by a doctor under the pretence of marriage. An ASHA worker in the health department, the victim, stated that Dr Gedam initially threatened him with a dismissal of her job and then duped her by falsely promising a wedding. She said the abuse happened in 2016 and extended for several years.
A widow, the victim has been working as an ASHA supervisor at the Civil Hospital in Lanji since 2007. In 2013 she lost her husband while she has two children, including one who is married. She said that she had come to know Dr. Gedam as early as 2007. He began to call her to his government quarters located within the hospital premises, and in that way, forcing upon her physical relations in time. Continuing with this exploitation, he dragged her to the hospital on the pretence of checking her hospital records and repeatedly sexually assaulted her.
The victim tells police that Dr Gedam promised to keep her alongside him. In 2016 up through 2024, he’d equally coerced her into a physical relationship multiple times. He used his position and power to silence any attempt of the victim to report the crime. As soon as she tried to file a complaint against him, she had to withdraw it. She felt helpless, approaching Jabalpur High Court and later filed a petition demanding an FIR against him.
The court was instructed that after this Dr Pradeep Gedam should be registered in a case. The matter is being investigated.
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