A court in Latur, Maharashtra, on Wednesday remanded Dr. Pramod Ghuge, accused of murdering a security guard at his hospital, to police custody until December 30.
Ghuge was arrested from an ashram in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, after being on the run for several days, while his nephew and alleged accomplice, Aniket Munde, remains at large.
The victim, Balu Bharat Dongre, employed as a security guard at Ghuge’s hospital, died on December 12. His family alleged he was brutally assaulted over a salary dispute. Following the family’s complaint, the police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 103 (1) (murder).
Arrest and Charges
Ghuge fled to Pune after the incident, claiming he was attending a conference. From there, he traveled to Haridwar, where he was apprehended. Inspector Dilip Sagar confirmed that efforts are ongoing to locate Munde, with two police teams assigned to the task.
According to the police, Dongre, previously arrested in an abduction case, had been coerced into participating in the crime by Ghuge, who promised him a salary without requiring work. Although Dongre initially received payments, the wages stopped, prompting him to confront the doctor. Ghuge allegedly responded with threats.
Incident Details
On December 12, Dongre reportedly went to Ghuge’s hospital to demand his salary. Witness accounts and the FIR allege that Ghuge and Munde severely beat Dongre, leaving him critically injured. The victim was later admitted to the ICU, where he succumbed to his injuries. To cover their tracks, the accused allegedly damaged Dongre’s motorcycle, parked at the hospital gate, to destroy evidence.
Ghuge initially claimed Dongre had died of a heart attack following an accident. However, Dongre’s father discovered his son had suffered severe injuries indicative of physical assault, leading the family to file a formal complaint.
Family’s Allegations
The family alleges that Ghuge attempted to manipulate the circumstances surrounding Dongre’s death to avoid accountability. The police are investigating the case further, while efforts continue to locate Munde, the co-accused in the crime.
