A junior resident doctor of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) has accused a senior colleague of trying to rape her, prompting the director of the state-run hospital to approach police who have registered an FIR.

According to hospital sources, the junior doctor, who is associated with the anaesthesia department, and her senior were both on Covid-19 duty at the RIMS new trauma centre between May 21 and Wednesday, May 27.

The accused senior doctor used to head home after work, whereas the junior doctor was using hospital accommodation on the fourth floor of the RIMS paying ward.

On Wednesday night, when the alleged incident occurred, the accused had stayed back at the hospital after duty.

In a written application to the hospital management on Thursday, the junior doctor alleged that the senior doctor of the critical care department molested and then tried to rape her at the RIMS isolation ward on Wednesday night.

She asked the authorities to take strict action against the senior doctor.

RIMS director Dr D. K. Singh, the sources said, forwarded her complaint to Bariautu police station after which FIR was lodged against the senior doctor late on Thursday night under IPC sections 376 (rape) and 511 (attempt to commit an offence).

Singh termed the incident unfortunate. “The victim had met me on Thursday evening along with her head of the department and handed over a written complaint. Taking it in cognizance, I forwarded the application to station-in-charge of Bariatu police station for action,” the director told Telegraph Online.

Singh said he was open to conducting an internal inquiry too. “As per the demand of the complainant, I forwarded the application to the police. If she demands an internal inquiry we can hand over the case to the women’s cell of RIMS for investigation,” he said.

A RIMS junior doctors’ delegation went to Bariatu police station on Friday and demanded the immediate arrest of the accused, who they claimed was at large.

Police, however, refused to entertain their plea. The police said they were conducting investigations and would take appropriate action in due course.

Bhushan Chandra, a junior resident doctor of RIMS, said: “The police didn’t even listen to us. How can we trust them on the investigation?”

Another junior resident alleged the police were trying to go slow on the case as the accused was a relative of a famous city doctor.

Officer-in-charge of Bariatu police station Sapan Mahta said they had searched several locations but were yet to nab the accused.

“We are also writing a letter to the RIMS management requesting it to have the victim tested for COVID-19 after her quarantine period ends, so that we can produce her before a judicial magistrate to record her statement,” Mahta said