Queanbeyan doctor Deepak Puri to fight sexual touching charges at hearing on October 10

Lawyers for a doctor who is ‘entirely unemployable’ while on sexual touching charges have vented their frustration over police delays on the case.

Deepak Shadilal Puri leaving Queanbeyan Local Court on a previous occasion. Picture: Sam Turner

Lawyers for a Jerrabomberra doctor who is “entirely unemployable” while fighting a criminal case of alleged sexual touching offences have vented frustration at police over case delays.

Deepak Shadilal Puri had his general practitioners licence suspended after he was charged with sexually touching another person without consent and an aggravated charge of sexually touching a person.

The 41-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charges and will fight them at a hearing.

In Queanbeyan Local Court, defence barrister Jason Moffett asked for a stay on the charges citing a lack of disclosure from police prosecutions.

Defence solicitor Henry Marjason argued in an affidavit tendered to the court that as a consequence of the allegations alone, their client’s medical practising certificate was suspended with their client now “entirely unemployable”.

Deepak Shadilal Puri.

Mr Moffett said in court the defence had only received a partial brief of evidence and were still waiting on a number of requests including the contact details of witnesses and particulars of the charges.

Puri’s barrister said the 41-year-old had a “right to know” what case he was to answer to prepare his defence and was concerned there was no progress in the matter. He then asked for a temporary stay of the charges.

Police prosecutor Emily Finn said due to an officer-of-charge being on leave some emails were not responded to but this had been remedied.

Sergeant Finn said two police officers and eight civilian witnesses would be required to the hearing.

Mr Moffett said Puri wanted a hearing date “as soon as possible” and requested a full brief so the defence could identify what the prosecution’s case was.

Magistrate Roger Clisdell set the hearing date to October 10.

Court documents allege Puri, who works as a general practitioner, sexually touched a woman without her consent at Braidwood in October last year.

His second charge relates to the same date and place but was aggravated.