A 55-year-old woman, Rajni Gupta, died in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, after undergoing bariatric surgery at Nutima Hospital on July 11, 2025. Her family has alleged negligence by the attending doctor, Rishi Singhal. The situation escalated at the hospital, prompting police and health officials to arrive.
Rajni Gupta, wife of businessman Brajmohan Gupta and a resident of Sadar Bazar, was influenced by a social media advertisement promoting weight-loss surgery. At the time of her surgery, she weighed 123 kg and opted for the procedure performed by Dr. Rishi Singhal. Her son, Shubham Gupta, stated that his sister, Shivani, who also weighed around 120 kg, was admitted to the hospital for surgery along with their mother. The family alleged that the doctor promised a weight loss of 30 kg within 24 hours and 60 kg gradually over three months. The surgery cost them 3.70 lakh rupees. While Shivani's operation was successful, Rajni passed away following her surgery.
According to the family, Rajni experienced severe abdominal pain the day after the surgery, which the doctors allegedly dismissed. On July 13, an X-ray revealed a leak in the abdomen, allegedly caused during surgery, leading to infection. The family further alleged that she did not receive proper treatment and died on Tuesday, July 15. They claim that the doctor performed a "bad stiching" during the surgery, which caused leakage in a vein. This resulted in fluid accumulation and a severe infection throughout her body.
Rajni's husband has filed a complaint at the Medical Police Station, accusing the doctor and the hospital staff of negligence. The complaint has been forwarded to the Chief Medical Officer, and further action will depend on the investigation report. CMO Dr. Ashok Kumar Kataria stated that he has not yet received the complaint but will act accordingly once it arrives. CO Civil Line Abhishek Tiwari reached the spot and pacified the family members by assuring them of action.
Dr. Rishi Singhal has denied the allegations of negligence. He said Rajni and her daughter attended an event on December 15, 2024, featuring over 150 of his treated patients. According to Dr. Singhal, Rajni underwent a successful surgery on July 11, and Shivani requested her surgery be advanced to July 12. He claims that both were stable until the morning of July 13, but Rajni experienced uneasiness that evening and was immediately shifted to the ICU. He further stated that a team of doctors, including Vishwajeet Bembi, Vishal Saxena, Avneet Rana, Mitul Jain, Hariraj Tomar, and Sandeep Garg, attempted treatment, but she died of a heart attack despite their efforts. Dr. Singhal added that Rajni Gupta had problems, including typhoid, fatty liver and heart issues.
