It is said that a boy from Thanjavur was admitted to the Medical College hospital for a certain illness, and his 15-year-old sister was staying with him as an attendant. On the day of the incident, while the girl was fast asleep, a duty doctor, Gopinath (35), a resident of  Thalaivasal in Salem, sexually abused her. The shocked girl who woke up raised an alarm.

She passed on the information to her parents, who complained to the Thanjavur All Women Police. A case was registered under various sections, including the Pocso Act, and an investigation was conducted. The investigation by police found that the complaint was genuine, and so on Thursday late hours, the police arrested Dr Gopinath and lodged him in the Pudukkottai prison.

It may be noted that Dr Gopinath was suspended after a Vishaka committee inquiry over a case of sexually abusing a nurse in July 2025. While the case was in progress, Gopinath had managed to return to duty after approaching the court.