The Delhi High Court on April 15 granted bail to a man arrested for assaulting two female doctors of the Safdarjung Hospital after accusing them of spreading COVID-19 in residential areas.

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While hearing the matter, a single judge bench of the high court presided by the Justice said, "The country is passing through a very difficult phase and the doctors are rendering yeomen service to the nation." After hearing the arguments of both the sides, the court granted bail to the man saying that he has been in judicial custody since April 10 and "no useful purpose would be served by keeping the petitioner in jail, overcrowding Tihar Jail."

The court also remarked that the man being educated -- his counsel said that he is an interior designer by profession -- should have been more respectful to the doctors rather than abusing and threatening them. The 42-year-old was arrested in the intervening night of April 9 and 10, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), South said.

The incident took place on April 9 at around 9 p.m. where the man allegedly assaulted two women resident doctors of Safdarjung Hospital after accusing them of "spreading" COVID-19.

Speaking to IANS, Manish, President, Resident Doctors Association, Safdarjung Hospital, had said, "The two doctors are posted in the Emergency Ward. At around 9 p.m. while they were buying vegetables, a man asked them to step aside accusing them of spreading coronavirus."

"The man said that ‘you come from the hospital and spread coronavirus'. When the doctors resisted and argued, the man slapped them and even twisted their hand. The local residents came in and helped the two women, but the man escaped from the spot," he had said.