An SIT investigation into the death of the internationally acclaimed Amritsar bodybuilder during a routine shoulder surgery has named four physicians, charging them under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for alleged medical negligence.
Amritsar Police have registered a First Information Report against four doctors at Fortis Escorts Hospital in connection with the death of celebrated professional bodybuilder Varinder Singh Ghuman, who passed away on October 9, 2025, following a routine shoulder surgery. The case was filed on the recommendations of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted after the matter generated widespread public outcry.
The FIR names Dr. Tapish Shukla, Dr. Alka Tiwari, Dr. Rajinder Kaur, and Dr. Arun Kumar Chopra under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with causing death by negligence. Further investigation into the matter is currently underway.
A Star Athlete’s Sudden Death
Varinder Ghuman, 42, was widely celebrated as Asia’s only vegetarian professional bodybuilder and had earned recognition on international stages. He had also made his mark in Bollywood, appearing alongside Salman Khan in Tiger 3 and featuring in Mr. India. He is survived by his father, wife, and three children.
Ghuman had been admitted to Fortis Escorts Hospital, Amritsar, for treatment of a shoulder injury — described by family members as a minor procedure. According to the hospital’s official statement, the surgical procedure was completed successfully around 3:00 PM on October 9. However, at approximately 3:35 PM, the patient suddenly developed cardiac arrhythmia. Despite resuscitation efforts by the anaesthesia, cardiology, and critical care teams, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 5:36 PM.
“He was completely fit before going in for a routine procedure. The SIT found negligence — someone must be held accountable.” — Bhupinder Singh, father of Varinder Ghuman
Family Alleges Negligence, Demands Accountability
Ghuman’s family and close associates rejected the hospital’s account, alleging that the doctors left him unattended for an extended period and failed to provide timely or adequate medical intervention. According to those present at the hospital, his body had visibly turned blue — a sign, they argued, that resuscitation efforts were delayed and inadequate.
When family members demanded to review CCTV footage from inside the operation theatre, hospital authorities informed them that no such footage existed. The response only deepened suspicions and sparked a commotion at the facility.
Ghuman’s father, Bhupinder Singh, subsequently filed a formal complaint with the police, alleging medical negligence and a failure to adhere to established medical protocols during the procedure. The complaint served as the foundation for the subsequent SIT inquiry.
SIT Investigation & Medical Board Findings
Given the gravity of the allegations and the case’s significant public traction, authorities constituted a Special Investigation Team to look into the circumstances of Ghuman’s death. Separately, a seven-member medical board was formed to conduct an independent clinical review of the medical records and statements from all parties involved.
The medical board’s findings were unequivocal — its review identified evidence of medical negligence in Ghuman’s treatment. The SIT, drawing on these findings and other investigative material, identified four doctors as the accused in the case and recommended registration of the FIR.
Family members confirmed that the SIT report attributed Ghuman’s death to negligence on the part of the treating physicians, and that police action followed directly from those conclusions.
The Accused Doctors
The four doctors named in the FIR are:
- Dr. Tapish Shukla
- Dr. Alka Tiwari
- Dr. Rajinder Kaur
- Dr. Arun Kumar Chopra
All four have been charged under Section 106(1) of the BNS. Police confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing, and further action will follow as the case progresses through the legal system.
Hospital Yet to Respond
Fortis Escorts Hospital, Amritsar, has not issued a formal statement in response to the registration of the FIR. The institution had previously maintained that the surgical procedure was performed successfully and that the cardiac event which caused Ghuman’s death was sudden and unforeseeable. The named doctors have not made any public statement at the time of publication.
The case is being closely watched across Punjab as a potential landmark in the accountability of medical professionals for alleged negligence. Legal experts note that convictions under Section 106(1) BNS — the successor provision to Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code — carry a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Leave a Reply