KEM Hospital probes Sejal Pawar's cadaver remarks, action likely
Synopsis
A two-minute clip from a stand-up comedy show has put a KEM Hospital MBBS student at the centre of a national storm over medical ethics. With Mumbai Police filing a case and a formal inquiry underway, the episode has forced a reckoning over what conduct is expected of medical professionals — and where institutional accountability begins.
Key Takeaways
KEM Hospital has constituted a two-member inquiry panel into Sejal Pawar 's remarks on male cadavers made during a comedy show.
The panel, led by Dr Anita Chalak and Dr Shraddha More , is reviewing approximately one hour of footage and will report to the Dean by Friday or Saturday .
Mumbai Police has registered a case following widespread public outrage over the viral clip.
KEM MARD condemned the remarks as inappropriate but warned against 'personal vilification' of Pawar online.
The National Medical Commission has existing social media guidelines on the dignity of deceased bodies used in research.
Pawar has issued an apology, stating she never intended to disrespect bodies donated for medical research.
KEM Hospital in Mumbai has launched a formal internal inquiry into controversial remarks made by final-year MBBS student Sejal Pawar during a stand-up comedy show, after a video clip went viral and triggered widespread public outrage. The two-member panel is expected to submit its findings to the hospital Dean by Friday or Saturday, following which disciplinary action may be initiated.
What Sparked the Controversy
The remarks, made during comedian Pranit More's show recorded months ago, resurfaced when a roughly two-minute clip circulated on social media. In the clip, Pawar allegedly made comments deemed disrespectful toward male cadavers used in medical research, including a comparison involving human genitalia. The backlash was swift and severe, prompting the Mumbai Police to register a case against her.
The Inquiry Panel and Its Scope
The probe committee has been constituted by KEM Hospital authorities and is being led by Dr Anita Chalak, Warden of the Undergraduates Hostel and Head of the Biochemistry Department, and Dr Shraddha More, Assistant Professor in Medicine. The panel is reviewing approximately one hour of programme footage to determine whether the remarks were made inadvertently or were intended as crass humour. Their observations will be submitted to the KEM Hospital Dean, after which a decision on action will follow.
Resident Doctors Raise Concern Over Online Vilification
The inquiry was constituted a day after the KEM MARD (Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors) raised flags about the online campaign against Pawar crossing into 'personal vilification' and 'targeted attacks.' In a statement issued on Thursday, MARD acknowledged that Pawar's remarks were inappropriate and did not reflect the values expected of medical professionals, but called for restraint in the public response.
Regulatory Framework and Medical Ethics
Medical experts have noted that the National Medical Commission (NMC) already has social media guidelines in place covering protocol around deceased bodies and the dignity owed to them. The controversy has reignited debate over the conduct expected of medical students both inside and outside clinical settings, and whether institutions adequately communicate those standards.
Pawar Issues Apology
Pawar has since expressed regret, stating that she understands the sensitivity around the subject and that she never intended to disrespect or demean bodies donated for research. Whether the apology will factor into the committee's recommendations remains to be seen, with the Dean's decision awaited by the weekend.
Point of View
But it risks becoming a procedural shield if the institution does not address the broader question: how are medical students being prepared to speak about — and around — human remains in public spaces? The NMC guidelines exist, yet their reach clearly did not extend to a comedy stage. The online pile-on that followed is its own problem — MARD's warning about vilification is not misplaced — but it should not dilute accountability for remarks that, at minimum, violated the dignity owed to those who donate their bodies to science. The Dean's decision will signal whether KEM treats this as a one-off lapse or a systemic gap in professional values education.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is KEM Hospital conducting an inquiry into Sejal Pawar?
KEM Hospital launched the inquiry after a video clip of final-year MBBS student Sejal Pawar making remarks deemed disrespectful toward male cadavers during a comedy show went viral and triggered public outrage. Mumbai Police has also registered a case in connection with the remarks.
Who is leading the KEM Hospital inquiry panel?
The two-member panel is led by Dr Anita Chalak, Warden of the Undergraduates Hostel and Head of the Biochemistry Department, and Dr Shraddha More, Assistant Professor in Medicine. They are reviewing approximately one hour of footage from the show.
What exactly did Sejal Pawar say that caused controversy?
According to reports, Pawar made comments described as disrespectful and demeaning toward male cadavers used in medical research, including a comparison involving human genitalia, during comedian Pranit More's show. The show was recorded months ago but resurfaced after a two-minute clip went viral.
Has Sejal Pawar responded to the controversy?
Yes, Pawar has issued an apology stating she understands the sensitivity of the subject and that she never intended to disrespect or demean bodies donated for research purposes. Whether this will influence the inquiry committee's recommendations is not yet known.
What action could Sejal Pawar face?
The inquiry panel will submit its observations to the KEM Hospital Dean, following which disciplinary action may be taken. The nature of any action will depend on the committee's findings, including whether the remarks were made inadvertently or as deliberate humour.
