Payal Tadvi case: Ex-HOD challenges accusation; mother seeks her custody

Dr Ching Ling Yi, accused of enabling and encouraging the harassment that allegedly led to Dr Payal Tadvi's suicide in May 2019, has petitioned the Bombay High Court to challenge her recent inclusion as an accused in the case.

- Karuna Nidhi and Revu Suresh

MUMBAI: Dr Ching Ling Yi, accused of enabling and encouraging the harassment that allegedly led to Dr Payal Tadvi's suicide in May 2019, has petitioned the Bombay High Court to challenge her recent inclusion as an accused in the case. Meanwhile, Payal's mother Abeda Tadvi has filed a plea before the Sessions Court, seeking Dr Ling's custody.

Dr Ling, currently with the Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College (GSMC) attached to the civic-run KEM Hospital in Mumbai, was Payal's head of department when the 26-year-old died by suicide allegedly due to caste-based harassment on May 22, 2019. Payal was a second-year resident doctor pursuing a post-graduate degree at the Topiwala National Medical College attached to the BYL Nair Hospital in Mumbai, when she died by suicide in the college hostel. Three senior resident doctors were arrested in the case and later released on bail.