FIR against Rainbow hospital for taking parking fee from patients

HYDERABAD: The Banjara Hills police registered an FIR against Rainbow Children’s Hospital following a complaint by an activist about the hospital’s parking operator collecting parking charges from attendants of patients and visitors.

Police registered FIR under Section 188 (disobedience of order promulgated by public servant), 418 (cheating out of a fiduciary relationship) and 420 (cheating) of IPC against Rainbow Hospitals on Sunday.

“We registered the FIR based on the allegations of activist Vijay Gopal. He alleged violation of government rules on parking in commercial complexes, multiplexes and hospitals. The complainant said he has video evidence. We will verify the evidence and act accordingly,” Banjara Hills police inspector K Srinivas told TOI.

“The hospital has leased out the parking space, which is against the rules. The lessee, to recover the amount, will exploit patients and visitors. They are collecting parking charges from inpatients and outpatients. As per the amended rules, the hospital should not collect parking fee from visitors of patients either,” complainant Vijay Gopal told TOI.

The state government had issued an order barring commercial establishments from collecting charges for parking within 30 minutes from April 2018. Hospitals were also brought into this. The government said parking should be free after 30 minutes also if the customer provides a bill as proof of purchase in shopping complexes and hospital bills and receipts for patients.

Refuting the allegations, the hospital authorities said only those coming to shop in the neighbourhood and trying to park their vehicles in the hospital parking are charged.