A father’s pain and hope as his daughter fights her darkest battle
When Dr Ch Mohana Vamsy, renowned Chief Surgical Oncologist and founder of Omega Hospitals, walked into Chanchalguda jail recently for a “mulaqaat” with his daughter, the very sight of her — behind bars — broke something inside him. Dr Namrata Chigurupati, once a dynamic CEO of Omega Hospitals, was arrested on May 11 for allegedly purchasing cocaine worth Rs 5 lakh. She transferred the amount online.
“She is doing well, she seemed fine,” he told the Hyderabad Chronicle hours after the meeting. “She is off drugs now and asked me to get her out of jail — she is a mother too.”
Her arrest sent shockwaves through the medical community and revealed a deeper, more tragic layer — of a brilliant doctor, battling mental health issues following a painful divorce, who slipped into substance abuse.
A Promising Career, Derailed by Personal Pain
Dr Namrata, known for her academic brilliance and go-getter attitude, was never one to rest on family privilege. After completing her specialisation in Radiation Oncology, she pursued Hospital Administration at the prestigious ESADE University in Spain.
Despite being the founder’s daughter, she earned her place at Omega on merit. “I’ve always looked at her as my son — full of energy, new ideas and outstanding negotiation skills,” says Dr Vamsy.
She took over Omega’s reins as CEO and, in a short span, transformed the hospital from a modest setup to a corporate entity. “She brought in Morgan Stanley, she had a vision,” Dr Vamsy recalls. But her personal life took a toll. After her divorce, she stepped down voluntarily. “She felt she couldn’t fulfil her responsibilities effectively. Later, she started a cosmetics business so she could dedicate more time to her children.”
“Why Would She Sell Property?”
Responding to rumours about her selling property to fund her drug habit, Dr Vamsy is firm: “It’s false news. Why would she sell her property? She’s not an ordinary person. There was no need for it.” He acknowledges she had been using drugs for the past couple of months. “She was buckling under pressure,” he says, adding that his world now revolves around his two grandchildren.
Trying times but there’s hope
Despite the personal devastation, Dr Vamsy remains hopeful. “She’s a strong-willed person. She will bounce back,” he says. “Once she is out, she’ll stay with me, and we’ll try to spend more time together.” The emotional toll is evident. “I built this empire (Omega). I came to Hyderabad all alone 30 years ago and worked very hard. But Namrata really transformed the hospital,” says the oncologist.
