Edward “Ward” Gardner, chairman of the Arkansas State Medical Board, leads a meeting on Aug. 7, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)
In a brief meeting Thursday, the Arkansas State Medical Board voted to enact an emergency license suspension and launch an investigation into a Forrest City physician who has been accused of rape and sexual assault.
Members of the medical board did not name the physician during their meeting, but a health department spokesperson confirmed to the Advocate that they were discussing Dr. Sudesh Banaji.
Banaji, 60, has held a medical license in Arkansas since 1999 and practices at Internal Medicine of Forrest City. He also has “hospital privileges” at the Forrest City Medical Center, according to an online biography .
Arkansas State Police arrested Benaji on Aug. 26 on six felony counts of second-degree sexual assault and one felony count of rape. He was held at the Cross County Sheriff’s Office on a $35,000 bond, but he is no longer on the inmate roster.