Jaipur, April 15 -- Doctors across Rajasthan on Tuesday began a 24-hour statewide strike to protest the arrest of a Jaipur private hospital director and demanded his immediate release. The strike disrupted outpatient services at private hospitals across the state. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Rajasthan chapter called the action, which began at 8am on Tuesday. The issue stems from the recent arrest of Dr Sondev Bansal, director of Nivik Hospital in Jaipur, in a case of alleged irregularities linked to the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS). IMA zonal secretary Dr Anurag Sharma stated that a medical board formed in the concerned case had found no evidence of medical negligence, yet the arrest of a reputed doctor over alleged irregularities linked to RGHS was unjustified. Dr Vijay Kapoor, president of the Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association of Rajasthan, called the strike symbolic but warned of escalation if demands go unmet. He added that all organisations have decided to continue the protest until Dr Bansal is released unconditionally. IMA secretary Dr NK Agrawal demanded the immediate release of Dr Bansal and called on the state government to resolve issues related to the RGHS scheme in coordination with doctors' representatives. The action followed an emergency meeting on Monday by the IMA and the association after Dr Bansal's arrest in an alleged fraud case linked to RGHS. Private hospitals have also announced an indefinite suspension of RGHS services, pressing for payment clearances and issue resolutions. According to Dr Kapoor, nearly 3,000 private hospitals and nursing homes operate in the state. In Jaipur, doctors stayed away from OPD duties and did not see new patients, though care for inpatients continued uninterrupted. The effects reached major facilities such as CK Birla, Saket, and Fortis hospitals, as well as smaller clinics. The protest extended to Kota, Alwar, Udaipur, and other cities, where private hospitals suspended IMA-backed services-including emergencies in several spots-leaving patients to seek alternatives....