Another victim has come forward alleging medical negligence after undergoing treatment at the Pandit Eye Surgery & Laser Hospital at Sector 10, Vashi, in 2020. Dharavi resident, Farooq Shaikh, 65, who permanently lost his vision in his right eye, sought Rs 25 lakh in compensation, and a consumer court ordered last year that he be paid Rs 7 lakh for permanent disability.

The court had, in 2021, ordered the formation of a medical committee of doctors at JJ Hospital to investigate the matter. However, the panel has not submitted its report in the past four years, hindering the Dharavi police from registering an FIR and leaving the man in legal limbo. “I’ve lost my eyesight, and still no FIR has been filed,” he said.

The court, after scrutinising the medical case papers, had noted an infection of panophthalmitis with endophthalmitis, which resulted in complete and irreversible loss of vision in his right eye. Shaikh, who ran an autorickshaw consultancy in Dharavi, underwent surgery in January 2020. He alleged that Dr Chandan Pandit performed the operation at his clinic, but used the name and signature of his father, Dr DV Pandit, on all medical documents.