PA Psychiatrist Ashok Bharucha, Sentenced for Sexual Assault of Patient, Has Charges Expunged

September 23, 2021

Updated March 29, 2022

Centre County, PA — A State College psychiatrist charged with sexual assault was sentenced to two years probation, Monday, Sept. 20.

Ashok Bharucha, 54, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of simple assault, according to the Centre Daily Times.

Bharucha was accused of inappropriately touching a patient and removing their clothes during an appointment in 2020. Following the incident, the victim received multiple phone calls and text messages from Bharucha asking them to join him in a hotel room, according to police.

The victim stated to police that they did not consent to the physical contact, according to the charges filed.

Bharucha’s medical license was temporarily suspended by the state Board of Medicine in July 2020.

According to the Board's July 2, 2020 Order of Temporary Suspension and Notice of Hearing: 

• "On June 25, 2020, [Bharucha] was arrested and charged with one criminal count of Sexual Assault, a felony...and two criminal counts of Idecent Assault, each a misdemeanor...."

• "...the alleged conduct which forms the basis of the criminal charges...occurred when [Bharucha] was treating the alleged victim/complainant in a psychiatric session. [Bharucha] placed his mouth around the penis of the complainant without complainant's consent...." 

• "Additionally...[Bharucha] touched the complainant's penis with [Bharucha's] hand for the purpose of arousing sexual desire...without complainant's consent."  

• "Additionally...[Bharucha] placed the complainant's hand on [Bharucha's] penis, for the purpose of arousing sexual desire...." 

• "[Bharucha] invited complainant to [Bharucha's] hotel room the evening following the therapy session where his conduct occurred, texting complainant the room number and stating that [he] wished complainant to be naked when complainant arrived...." 

• "[Bharucha] also called the complainant several times the evening after the therapy session at which this conduct occurred. These communications were shown to law enforcement investigating these offenses."

The Board's suspension document remains available for public view on the Pennsylvania Department of State website. 

In February, his license was reinstated with the acknowledgment that additional discipline could be forthcoming, the Centre Daily Times reported.

Along with probation, Bharucha’s sentencing includes $1,000 in restitution and a $500 fine.

On January 5, 2022, Bharucha obtained an expungement of both the Sexual Assault and Indecent Assault charges. 

Source: Kaitlyn Hall, “State College psychiatrist pleads guilty to 2020 assault, sentenced,” WTAJ News, Sept. 20, 2021, URL: https://www.wearecentralpa.com/news/local-news/state-college-psychiatrist-pleads-guilty-to-2020-assault-sentenced/ and Order of Temporaray Suspension and Notice of Hearing, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs vs. Ashock J. Bharucha, M.D., File no. 20-49-007717, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of State Before the State Board of Medicine, July 2, 2020.