Navi Mumbai News: Father-Son Ophthalmologists Booked For Cataract Surgery Negligence Causing Vision Loss

Navi Mumbai: Dr Chandan Pandit, against whom Vashi police has registered a case, was suspended in 2016 by then NMMC Commissioner Tukaram Munde following various complaints against him. He was serving as an ophthalmic surgeon in the civic Health Department when the suspension order was issued under the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979, and the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act, after repeated warnings failed to improve his conduct.

Dr Chandan Pandit Suspended Earlier, Now Investigated for Running Private Hospital While Employed with NMMC

In 2017, after N Ramaswami took charge as Commissioner, Pandit was reinstated and currently was posted with NMMC hospital in Airoli. "After the FIR was lodged, he has gone on leave. The department is investigating about how he could run a private hospital while he was an employee with NMMC," said a NMMC officer from Health Department.

The case against Dr Pandit and his father Dr DV Pandit was registered by Rajendra Gupta (67) from Koparkhairane. According to the complainant, the hospital is functional under the name of Dr DV Pandit who is now above 80 years but allegedly operated by his son Dr Chandan Pandit who is an employee of NMMC.

"The patients who see him at NMMC hospital are asked to see him at this private hospital by Dr Chandan Pandit for surgery. We also believed him considering that he was associated with NMMC," complainant's daughter Dipali said.

After the initial alegation by Gupta, Vashi police sought opinion of Thane civil surgeon as per the protocol. The report submitted to Vashi police by Thane Civil Surgeon Kailas Pawar stated that 'medical negligence was found in the treatment of 67-year-old Rajendra Hardayal Gupta from Koparkhairane, who underwent cataract surgery at Pandit Eye Surgery and Laser Hospital, Vashi, in March 2025.'

Expert Report Finds Multiple Lapses in Cataract Surgery on Patient Rajendra Gupta

The report further stated that the expert committee found that the surgery was performed despite Gupta’s blood sugar level being 229 mg/dl, with no HbA1C, fasting, or post-lunch tests done, and without physician fitness clearance. National guidelines for cataract surgery in diabetic patients were not followed.

The report emphasizes that records showed he had chronic iridocyclitis, yet steroid eye drops were not prescribed before surgery.

Unregistered Surgeon Dr D.V. Pandit Aged 87 Listed on Hospital Records; Actual Surgery Allegedly by Dr Chandan Pandit

The report also revealed that surgeon Dr. D.V. Pandit did not have a valid Maharashtra Medical Council registration at the time and was 87 years old. While hospital records name Dr. D.V. Pandit as the surgeon, the patient alleged Dr. Chandan Pandit operated. The committee recommended police verify this through statements, CCTV footage, and signature analysis.

The report concluded that the doctors were responsible for the patient’s left-eye injury and that negligence occurred in multiple aspects of treatment.

Gupta in his complaint alleged that after undergoing cataract surgeries on both eyes at the hospital in December 2024, his vision worsened, and tests later confirmed a Pseudomonas infection. He further claimed the second surgery was conducted before his blood sugar reports were available and that medical records were issued in Dr. D.V. Pandit’s name instead of Dr. Chandan Pandit’s.

Multiple Patients Report Permanent Eye Damage and Infections After Treatment

The FIR also names other patients — Kisan Bhikaji Dhanawade (69), Laxmi Dhanawade (64), Sanjeev Mahesh Gupta, and Ajani Sawant — who allegedly suffered permanent eye damage after treatment at the hospital. Gupta too faced permanent vision loss in one eye due to the alleged botched up surgery. Patient Anjani Sawant is the mother of a police staff who works in Navi Mumbai police commissioner office.

Police Register Case Under Medical Negligence and National Medical Commission Act; Investigation Ongoing

"We have booked both doctors for negligence, causing grievous hurt, and under provisions of the National Medical Commission Act, and have launched a detailed investigation. However since the punishment in these cases is below seven years, as per the supreme court guidelines, we have served them notice," deputy commissioner of police (zone I) Pankaj Dahane said.

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Meanwhile, after the reports of the FIR surfaced, one more patient from Dharavi has approached the police informing a similar negligence in their case too.