The King Edward Memorial Hospital in Mumbai sent medical student Sejal Pawar on compulsory leave for 15 days while a formal inquiry is conducted into remarks that she made during a stand-up comedy show hosted by comedian Pranit More, The Indian Express reported on Saturday.

Pawar had made allegedly objectionable comments about the reproductive organs of a male cadaver.

Her parents have also been called for counselling, the newspaper reported.

The action follows controversy surrounding comments made by Gurgaon resident Himanshu Jangra during a separate live recording of the show. Jangra expressed entitlement to physical intimacy in return for spending Rs 370 for a biryani on a date with a woman. He had also claimed to have pressured the woman to accompany him to a “dark” park despite her repeated reluctance.

After his remarks drew criticism, social media users shared clips from another episode featuring Pawar in the audience, in which she also made comments that were widely criticised.

The action by KEM hospital follows a preliminary inquiry into the videos featuring Pawar, The Indian Express reported.

Harish M Pathak, the dean of the teaching hospital said Pawar had been “handed over to the care of her parents and concerns regarding her safety and mental well-being are also being considered”, the newspaper reported.

He added the hospital had advised her parents to arrange counselling and that any further action would be taken in accordance with applicable rules and guidelines “given that she is still pursuing her medical education”.

On Friday, Pawar submitted a written apology acknowledging that some of her statements were inappropriate and may have caused distress.

A five-member committee has been proposed to carry out an investigation into the matter and submit a report within seven working days, The Times of India reported.

The panel is expected to include a retired faculty member, three senior faculty members and a journalist.

“While certain facts emerged during the preliminary assessment, a broader and impartial investigation was considered necessary before arriving at any conclusions,” The Indian Express quoted the dean as saying.

The Maharashtra Police on Thursday registered a case against More, Jangra and Pawar, among other persons under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to making sexually coloured remarks, distributing obscene materials and circulating false information intended to promote enmity between groups.

They were also booked under a section of the Information Technology Act for publishing obscene material.

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors said that Pawar’s comments were inappropriate and not in line with the dignity of the profession.

However, they also acknowledged that the online campaign against her had crossed into “targeted harassment” and “person vilification”, Hindustan Times reported.

Edited by Neerad Pandharipande.