A shocking audio clip allegedly capturing a 2021 phone conversation between two government doctors in Maharashtra has surfaced on social media, shocking the nation and drawing severe backlash. The incident has raised questions about medical ethics and accountability, particularly during times of healthcare crisis.
Audio clip surfaces four years later
The alleged audio recording from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 surfaced on social media on May 2, 2025, prompting police action. The audio clip, reportedly between two government doctors from Maharashtra’s Latur district, features a disturbing exchange where one of them appears to instruct the other to kill a COVID-19 patient.
The Maharashtra police have filed an FIR against Dr Shashikant Deshpande, who was the additional district surgeon at Udgir Government Hospital at the time. As per a PTI report, the second doctor in the conversation is identified as Dr Shashikant Dange, who was then serving at a Covid care facility.
“Kill that Dayami woman”
In the clip, a voice believed to be Dr Deshpande’s is heard telling Dr Dange, “Don’t allow anyone to go inside, just kill that Dayami woman.” The patient in question was Kausar Fatima (then aged 41), who had been hospitalised with Covid-19 at a centre opposite an eye hospital on Nanded Road.
Dr Dange is reportedly heard responding cautiously, noting that the patient’s oxygen had already been reduced. According to the police FIR, Deshpande also allegedly made caste-based remarks during the call.
Kausar Fatima was hospitalised for 10 days, and about the seventh day, her husband, Dayami Ajimoddin Gaussoddin, was seated next to Dr Dange while the doctor was eating lunch. It was during this time that Dr Dange received a call from Dr Deshpande. Dr Dange placed it on speaker as he continued to discuss hospital-related matters.
Doctor also made a caste-based remark, claims victim
During the conversation, Dr Deshpande reportedly asked about bed availability. When Dr Dange said no beds were free, the husband claimed he heard Dr Deshpande say, “Kill the Dayami patient. You’re used to handling such cases.”
According to the husband’s complaint, a caste-based remark was also allegedly made during the call. He stated that he was stunned by the comment but refrained from reacting as his wife was still receiving medical care. A few days later, she showed improvement and was discharged from the facility.
Husband claims he overheard the call during treatment
The case was filed by Gaussoddin, who recounted that he had overheard the call in 2021 while seated next to Dr Dange, who was having lunch. Dr Dange had received the call and placed the phone on speaker.
Gaussoddin told the police he was shocked by what he heard but chose not to react at the time, as his wife was still undergoing treatment. Kausar Fatima eventually recovered and was discharged ten days after her admission.
Complaint filed after viral audio clip
On May 2, 2025, the same audio clip resurfaced on social media, reigniting the trauma for Gaussoddin. According to the FIR, hearing the caste slur and instructions to “kill” his wife caused him deep mental distress and religious offence. The man stated that hearing the same distressing remarks once more caused him significant emotional pain and offended his religious beliefs, particularly due to the reported use of caste-based slurs.
Following this, he approached the police and lodged a formal complaint. Based on this, police registered an FIR against Dr Deshpande under sections related to intentional insult to religious sentiments and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code.
Police seize phones, probe authenticity of audio
According to the PTI report, Inspector Dilip Gade said that the police have issued notices to both doctors involved and are in the process of recording statements. “We have seized the complainant’s phone and are verifying the authenticity of the audio clip,” he said. He added that Dr Dange is currently out of the district but will be questioned and his mobile phone seized for forensic analysis.