A doctor allegedly conducted a delivery in an inebriated state which led to the death of the mother and the newborn child in Botad district of Gujarat, police said Tuesday.

Police have taken the accused doctor in custody.

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According to police, Kaminiben Chanchiya (22) was brought to Botad’s government-run Sonawala Hospital late Monday night and the delivery was conducted by Dr P J Lakhani.

The reports suggest that the newborn girl child died followed by Chanchiya sometime later, prompting the victim’s kin to accuse the doctor of negligence.

“The police found that the doctor was drunk while on duty. He was first booked under the Prohibition Act and was arrested. His blood sample was sent for testing,” Botad Superintendent of Police Harshad Mehta was quoted as saying by the PTI.

Chanchiya’s body has been sent to Bhavnagar Civil Hospital for post mortem and the autopsy report, as per rules, will be sent to a committee headed by the civil surgeon to examine and ascertain negligence on part of the accused, Mehta added.

“As per Supreme Court guidelines, only a committee headed by a civil surgeon can determine negligence charges. If the report is positive, we will book him under provisions of IPC related to negligence,” he said.

Lakhani’s superiors and the District Development Officer have been intimated of his arrest as the accused is a Class II official, Mehta said.

(With PTI inputs)