Pune’s Sassoon General Hospital has submitted its fourth and final investigative report on the death of Tanisha Bhise, a 37-year-old woman who died days after delivering twins, to the Maharashtra government and Alankar police. The report, prepared by a six-member committee, scrutinizes the alleged denial of emergency care by Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital (DMH) over a ₹10 lakh deposit demand, a potential violation of medical ethics and the Nursing Home Act.
The Sassoon committee’s report, submitted on April 16, 2025, follows three prior inquiries by the state health department, Pune Charity Commissioner, and PMC’s maternal death audit team. Investigations revealed that DMH refused admission to Tanisha despite her critical condition, citing her inability to pay the advance. Shockingly, the family alleges she was prepped for surgery (given hospital robes and shaved) before being turned away; a claim DMH denies.
Maharashtra Women’s Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar has demanded an FIR against DMH, stating, “This isn’t just negligence,it’s systemic apathy toward women’s healthcare”. BJP MLC Amit Gorkhe, whose secretary is Tanisha’s husband, has accused DMH of “recklessness” and pushed for accountability. The hospital’s medical director, Dr. Dhananjay Kelkar, maintains Tanisha was never formally admitted.
The case has ignited debates about healthcare accessibility and the ethical obligations of charitable hospitals receiving government benefits. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who ordered the probe, faces pressure to enforce stricter penalties for medical negligence. Meanwhile, Pune police are evaluating the reports before filing charges.
Tanisha’s twins, now orphaned, remain at the center of this tragedy. Chakankar vowed, “No family should endure this, we’re fighting for systemic reforms to protect mothers”.
