Published Feb 23, 2026 | 6:12 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 23, 2026 | 6:12 PM
Synopsis: A six-month-old boy died at a private hospital in Rajendranagar, Telangana, on Friday, 21 February, after he was allegedly given an expired injection. Police have booked the doctor in charge, his wife, staff members and the hospital management. A senior paediatrician expressed scepticism about the expired drug being the cause of death, noting that purported images of the drug show it to be adrenaline, used for resuscitation.
A six-month-old boy died at a private hospital in Rajendranagar, Telangana, on Friday, 21 February, after he was allegedly given an expired injection. Police have registered a criminal case against the doctor in charge, Dr Abhishek Mahankali, his wife Bhavana, staff members Deepthi, Nandini, Haritha and Mounika, and the management of Crayons Hospital.
The infant, identified as P Ramu, was treated at Crayons Hospital in Sun City, Bandlaguda Jagir, owned by Dr Mahankali.
Rajendranagar Inspector M Muthu Yadav confirmed that the injection allegedly administered to the child had expired on 19 January. Police have met the district medical officer to verify initial details. Further investigation is under way.
A government medical team has been sent to the hospital. Investigators are examining CCTV footage, and paediatric and anaesthesia doctors are supervising the probe.
Residents in Bandlaguda Jagir have expressed anger over the infant’s death and are demanding action against the hospital. The incident also led to the assault of a senior paediatrician who visited the police station after Dr Mahankali was brought in for questioning.
The child was first taken to Crayons Hospital on Wednesday evening after he developed a fever. After examining him, Dr Mahankali prescribed medicines and sent the family home.
When the fever did not subside by the following evening, the family returned. The FIR states that Dr Mahankali examined the child again and “instructed them to continue using the same medicines and to wipe his body with a wet cloth”, then sent them home.
By Friday morning, the child’s condition had not improved. The family reached the hospital at about 7 am and found no staff present.
“Initially, neither the doctor nor the duty doctor was present. After about thirty minutes, Dr Abhishek arrived and, after checking, instructed nurse Mounika to start a saline drip and asked them to keep the patient under observation for 4 hours,” the FIR states.
A prescription was written and the family were asked to buy the medicine from outside. After they returned, a nurse administered the injection.
According to the FIR, immediately after the injection the infant’s body “turned yellow and blue”. Staff began rushing around in panic.
“When the complainant questioned the doctor about what was happening, he said the baby was not responding. The complainant asked for a reason, but the doctor did not provide a clear answer,” the FIR states.
The family alleged that hospital records show the child was declared dead at 11.30 am, but CPR was not performed until 12.30 pm and this was not disclosed to them at the time.
When the complainant asked for the case file, the hospital initially refused to provide it. After reviewing the records, the family said they found the cause of death.
“The complainant saw that they had given a Vasocone drug that had expired on January 19, 2026. Dr Abhishek’s wife, Bhavana, was also present at the hospital. Due to the negligence of the doctor and staff, and the usage of expired medicine, the complainant’s son demised,” the FIR states.
A senior paediatrician has disputed the family’s account of the events, noting that the images of the purported drug circulating online show it to be adrenaline, a resuscitation drug.
“If you see the pic of the injection being shared by the media, it is that of Adrenaline which is not some routine drug, but is a drug used for resuscitation of a person. Therefore, the pic of the expired adrenaline that is being shown in the video was definitely not the medicine given to the baby for treating the illness. I request people not to jump to conclusions that the baby died due to an expired drug being injected into the baby. Let a thorough investigation happen and the truth come out,” he told South First.
The doctor also expressed scepticism that an expired drug could cause immediate death.
“One can’t die because of an injection with an expiry date 1 or 2 months back. Yes, the effectiveness can come down—and so the person can have related complications and die, or the bacterial contamination can cause problems—but the death will not be immediate. In this baby’s case, detailed investigation will only reveal the cause of death: anaphylaxis or vasovagal attack?” he explained.
He added that the vial shown in the footage appeared intact, which casts doubt on whether it was the one administered.
“The nurse gave a test dose as per the complaint letter given. Then only, she administered the injection. The baby may have developed anaphylaxis. CPR was given as per the letter. Adrenaline would have been given too.”
The infant’s death led to unrest within the local medical community after a senior paediatrician alleged he was assaulted inside Rajendranagar Police Station the same evening.
Dr E Arjun, Medical and Managing Director of Apoorva Hospital, Mehdipatnam, said he went to the station after learning that Dr Mahankali had been brought in for questioning.
“While I was proceeding within the Police Station premises for this purpose, I was suddenly surrounded and physically manhandled by a group of individuals, believed to be attenders of the patient. I was pushed, kicked, slapped, and verbally abused without any provocation or fault on my part. Despite my calls for help, immediate protection was not provided at that moment,” he said in his complaint to police.
He said police protection was later provided by ACP Srinivas and that he remained under supervision for about two hours. He sustained visible bruises and ecchymotic patches.
Dr Arjun also accused sections of the media of misrepresenting the incident.
“The visuals are being portrayed in a misleading manner, projecting me as the offender, thereby causing serious damage to my professional reputation and personal dignity,” he said.
A former President of the Twin Cities Branch of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics and former Secretary of the Telangana Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association, he has demanded an FIR, identification of those involved through CCTV and media footage, and action to prevent defamation against him.
The Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association condemned the assault.
“An incident of this nature occurring inside a police station is extremely alarming and unacceptable. The safety and dignity of any citizen—especially a senior medical professional—must be ensured within such premises,” the association said in a press statement dated 21 February 2026.
The association said violence against doctors inside a law enforcement facility sets a dangerous precedent and pledged legal and democratic action until justice is delivered. It demanded immediate registration of an FIR, identification of those involved through CCTV and media footage, and strict legal action.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
