In a significant turn of events on Wednesday, the state government directed Dr Vinayak Kale, Dean, B J Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, to proceed on compulsory leave in the Pune Porsche car crash. The order came shortly after Kale's press conference in Pune where he announced punitive action against three members of the Sassoon staff arrested by Pune Police. When questioned by reporters on Dr Ajay Taware's appointment as superintendent, Dr Kale reportedly pointed to the Medical Education Minister Hassan Mushrif's remarks on a recommendation letter sent by MLA Sunil Tingre. "I only followed the orders given to me by the minister," said Kale. "When questioned by reporters on why DrTaware was appointed superintendent despite having a tainted history at the hospital. He said that at that time the doctor who was holding the post of superintendent was an associate professor but the post is meant to be held by a professor. "Hence, when I received the remarks which have been widely seen in the media, I appointed Dr Taware as superintendent," said Kale. Orders issued late on Wednesday evening state that as the head of the institution Dr Kale failed to understand the seriousness of the situation and did not effectively monitor it. The state has also in a separate order suspended Dr Ajay Taware, medical superintendent at Sassoon General Hospital and terminated the services of Dr. Shrihari Halnor, casualty medical officer, for their alleged involvement in the case. Dr Taware allegedly had issued instructions for throwing the blood sample in the dustbin and further manipulating the alcohol report of the minor driver involved in the May 19 Porsche car crash. Dr Chandrakant Mhaske, Dean of Ahilya Devi Holkar Government Medical College, Baramati has been given an additional charge as Dean of B J Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital.
