In a disciplinary move, Mumbai police commissioner Deven Bharti on Tuesday suspended senior police inspector Ravindra Katkar for procedural violations in registering a First Information Report (FIR) and arresting a doctor without following proper protocol or informing his superiors.
The suspension comes in connection with the controversial arrest of Dr Atul Wankhede, an orthopaedic surgeon practicing in Mumbai’s western suburbs. The doctor was accused of using a forged master’s degree to practice medicine. However, subsequent legal developments and administrative scrutiny cast serious doubts over the handling of the case by the Worli police team.
Unlawful Arrest, Jurisdictional Doubts, and Court’s Rebuff
According to officials, the sequence of events began last month when Inspector Katkar registered an FIR against Dr Wankhede and arrested him from his residence in Juhu. The doctor was then presented before a metropolitan magistrate court, where the police sought his custody.
However, the court denied the request for police custody and instead sent the doctor to judicial custody, observing that further detention would serve no purpose due to the long duration required for investigation. He was granted bail the same day, on April 29.
The doctor’s legal counsel strongly contested the police’s claims, stating that Dr Wankhede held a legitimate MS degree from Seychelles and had never used any fake credentials to gain employment. Additionally, his lawyer alleged that the arrest violated statutory procedures, and raised concerns over the lack of jurisdiction, as the FIR was filed in Worli, despite the doctor practicing in the western suburbs.
Disciplinary Action for Breach of Arrest Protocol
An internal review by senior Mumbai police officials revealed that Inspector Katkar had failed to inform his superiors prior to making the arrest, a clear violation of procedural norms, especially in cases involving professionals and sensitive allegations. Furthermore, the jurisdictional mismatch raised further concerns over the legitimacy and intent behind the case registration.
“There were serious doubts regarding jurisdiction, and Inspector Katkar failed to adhere to the chain of command during the arrest,” a senior police official said. “In light of these lapses, the commissioner ordered his immediate suspension.”
Commissioner Deven Bharti, known for his zero-tolerance stance on procedural misconduct, acted promptly, emphasizing the importance of due process, transparency, and accountability in police functioning—particularly in high-profile or sensitive matters.
Impact and Ongoing Inquiry
The case has sparked wider discussions within Mumbai’s policing and legal circles about checks and balances in arrest procedures, especially when involving professionals like doctors. Questions have also been raised about inter-departmental communication, and whether the FIR was part of a broader misuse of power or misinterpretation of jurisdictional authority.
The police department has launched a departmental inquiry into the matter to examine whether additional officers were complicit or whether protocol failures were systemic. Meanwhile, Dr Wankhede has resumed his practice and maintains that the allegations were baseless and defamatory.
As the inquiry unfolds, the case stands as a reminder of the importance of procedural discipline within the law enforcement system—and the consequences of its breach.
