Surat: Two of the four second-year doctors accused in the ragging case involving Government Medical College (GMC), Surat, appeared before Khatodara police on Friday and denied any wrongdoing, three days after the college filed an FIR against them.Speaking to the media before giving his statement, second-year microbiology student Dr Anuj Maheshwari said the death of Dr Harsh Pandya was deeply distressing but urged investigators not to examine the incident from a single perspective.“We are also in shock over the death of Dr Harsh Pandya and it is a serious matter. But that does not mean it should be probed from one angle only. The origin of the incident was multifactorial. It should be probed from all angles, including personal and relationship issues,” he said.Maheshwari also objected to the use of the term “ragging”, saying the seniors had only given instructions similar to those they had received as first-year residents. “It is up to the judiciary to decide whether this was ragging or not. I have complete faith in the judiciary,” he said.Dr Dishita Gevariya also appeared before police and recorded her statement later in the evening.Khatodara police inspector N V Bharwad said both students had pleaded not guilty and denied ragging. “They said they had only given instructions as seniors do in medical colleges. The first-year students had been called to the serology lab for work-related instructions,” he said.Police are yet to record statements of the other two accused, Dr Hina Bhut and Dr Nirali Vasave.According to the FIR, GMC alleged that Pandya and nine other first-year microbiology students were abused and insulted by the four seniors, who also allegedly made complaints to faculty members against them.The FIR states that Gevariya called the 10 juniors to the serology lab on Aug 5, where they were allegedly harassed and wrongfully confined for about two hours.Gevariya told the media that Pandya’s death was “very sad” and said she had faith in the police investigation and hoped he would get justice.
