High-profile nature of case seen as likely reason
The panel of doctors at the South Goa District Hospital mortuary after conducting the post mortem examination on the body of Dr Ketan Bhatikar.
MARGAO
The decision to constitute a special panel of doctors to conduct the post mortem examination on Dr Ketan Bhatikar’s body at the South Goa District Hospital has raised questions, as the district hospital already has a forensic medicine team headed by Dr Madhu SG Ghodkirekar, Associate Professor and HoD/In-charge of Forensic Medicine at the hospital.
The post mortem examination was conducted by a panel headed by Dr Andre V Fernandes, Professor and Head of the Department of Forensic Medicine at Goa Medical College, Bambolim.
The first question is whether the dean of Goa Medical College, Dr JP Tiwari, constituted the panel because the case involved a political figure and had assumed a high-profile nature. What prompted the Medical Superintendent of South Goa District Hospital, Dr Rajendra Borkar, to send a request to the GMC dean for the constitution of a panel when the district hospital already had an established forensic medicine team under Dr Ghodkirekar?
Another question being raised is whether Dr Ghodkirekar voluntarily opted out of the post mortem examination team, considering that he hails from Ponda, or whether the Medical Superintendent sought the constitution of the panel based on suggestions from the police or higher authorities.
A look at the order issued by Dr Tiwari constituting the panel shows that the decision was based on Letter No. HH/EST/2026-27/849 dated 15/05/2026, received from Dr Rajendra M Borkar, Dy Director and Medical Superintendent, Hospicio South Goa District Hospital, Margao, requesting the constitution of a panel of doctors to conduct the post mortem examination on the body of deceased Dr Bhatikar.
Accordingly, GMC constituted a panel comprising Dr Andre V Fernandes, Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine, Goa Medical College, Bambolim; Dr Sunil S. Chimbolkar, Lecturer, Department of Forensic Medicine, Goa Medical College, Bambolim; and Dr Ciano Fernandes, Senior Pathologist, South Goa District Hospital.
Sources at the South Goa District Hospital said the panel was apparently constituted because the matter involved a high-profile political personality. However, sources added that there is nothing on record to indicate what exactly prompted the Medical Superintendent to write to the GMC Dean seeking the constitution of the panel — whether it was done at the request of the police, on instructions from higher authorities, or because Dr Ghodkirekar chose not to be part of the post mortem team.
---
Supporters, leaders throng hospital during autopsy
MARGAO: The panel of doctors that conducted the post-mortem examination on Dr Ketan Bhatikar’s body chose to remain tight-lipped about the exact cause of his death.
Dr Andre Fernandes, Professor and Head of the Department of Forensic Medicine at Goa Medical College, told the media after the examination that he was not authorised to comment on the findings.
“My lips are sealed. I am not authorised to speak to the media on post-mortem examinations as per a government order,” Dr Andre said, declining to elaborate on the circumstances surrounding Bhatikar’s death.
The police later certified the cause of death as “cerebral and pulmonary oedema consequent to neurotoxic snakebite poisoning.”
Meanwhile, streams of visitors visited the South Goa District Hospital after news spread that Dr Ketan Bhatikar’s body had been brought to the hospital from Ponda for the post mortem examination.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Congress Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa, Congress leader and senior vice-president M K Sheikh, Youth Congress president Archit Naik, Sunil Kawthankar, Pradip Naik, activist Rama Kankonkar, besides relatives and well-wishers of Bhatikar, patiently waited outside the hospital mortuary.
After the post mortem examination, which ended only after 2 pm, the mortal remains of the Congress leader were later taken to Ponda for the final rites.
