A doctor was beaten to death in Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh state for allegedly harassing a patient’s wife over the phone, police said.

The incident took place at the New Sankalp Drug De-addiction Centre in Padmadhar Colony. Dr Rudra Sengupta, 53, died on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at the Sanjay Gandhi Hospital.

Police have charged five people with murder, including the woman and her husband Prasoon Tiwari, 37, and their relative Shashank Tiwari, 36, the director of the rehabilitation center.

“Dr Rudra Sengupta was working at the New Sankalp drug rehabilitation centre for the last two and a half years. He came in contact with the woman when her husband, who was addicted to alcohol, was undergoing treatment at the centre. Sengupta left the centre two months ago but was allegedly sending messages to the woman, making obscene remarks and even calling her,” said Vivek Singh, Rewa police commissioner.

The woman informed her in-laws and Shashank about the matter and on Monday Shashank called Sengupta on the pretext of seeing a patient.

“Sengupta reached the centre after the call where all five of them beat him up. He fainted due to internal injuries and was admitted to Sanjay Gandhi Medical College where he succumbed to his injuries,” the SP said.

The accused informed the doctor’s family that an accident had occurred and Sengupta was seriously injured.

“Late Monday night, my sister received a call that her husband had met with an accident. By the time we reached the hospital, he had already died. The doctor said he had succumbed to internal injuries caused by beating,” said the doctor’s brother-in-law, Sheshmani.

The police are investigating this case.