Suspended doctor Deepak Puri charged with raping woman in Braidwood

Initially charged with sexual touching offences, a suspended doctor is now also accused of raping a woman in country NSW.

Deepak Puri outside Queanbeyan Local Court last year. Picture: Sam Turner

Prosecutors have upgraded the charges levelled at a suspended doctor, who is now accused of raping a woman in country NSW.

Deepak Shadilal Puri, 42, was due to fight charges of sexual touching and aggravated sexual touching late last year, only for his Queanbeyan Local Court hearing to be vacated.

He was subsequently hit with two additional charges, accusing him of aggravated sexual assault and sexual intercourse without consent.

All four charges related to the alleged abuse of a woman in Braidwood, about an hour’s drive from Canberra, in October 2022.

Puri was excused from attending court on Tuesday, when a prosecutor said the two aggravated charges had been certified to eventually proceed to the District Court.

Suspended doctor Deepak Puri. Picture: Sam Turner

The prosecutor withdrew the other charges, which magistrate Brett Thomas dismissed.

Court documents show Puri has pleaded not guilty to the aggravated sexual touching charge.

There has not been a plea recorded in relation to the aggravated sexual assault charge, which alleges Puri had sex with the woman while knowing she had not consented.

Puri, who lives in the Queanbeyan suburb of Jerrabomberra, remains on bail ahead of his next court date, which is scheduled for June.

Defence lawyer Harrison Woods indicated a case conference would take place before then.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency general database shows Puri’s registration has been suspended and states he cannot currently practise in Australia.

Last year, Puri’s former lawyers told Queanbeyan Local Court the allegations levelled at the general practitioner had resulted in his suspension and rendered him “entirely unemployable”.