LANSING, Mich. — A judge on Friday ordered Okemos physical therapist Ajay Bhargava's license to remain suspended.
He's accused of sexually assaulting patients.
The administrative law judge heard from nine former workers or patients of Okemos Therapy Services before hearing closing arguments.
Ajay Bhargava, who owns the practice, had his license suspended by the state back in November after multiple women accused him of touching them inappropriately.
Friday, another physical therapist, Chinmay Zinzuvadia, said he worked for Bhargava from 2007 to 2012.
He even treated one of the accusers.
Zinzuvadia said Bhargava required another staff member to be in the room while working on sensitive body parts, such as chest or buttocks.
Many women who testified Friday were office managers.
They said they were often in the room during some sessions, primarily with women patients.
The seven former staff members told the judge exam room doors were hardly ever closed. If the doors were closed, it was because the patient was changing or asked for it to be closed.
On Jan. 9, three women testified that he got pleasure out of groping them during treatment and said they want to keep his suspension in place.
One patient with neck pain said Bhargava asked her to undress from the waist up and then stared at her breasts.
Another, who was seeing Bhargava for pain in her elbow, said he asked her to remove her bra while he massaged her shoulders and moved down to her buttocks. The patient says he eventually asked her to undress completely as he massaged her breasts.
A third patient saw Bhargava for neck pain.
She said he too massaged her buttocks and breasts and that he had an erection afterward.
Bhargava's attorney Brian Morley declined to comment after Friday's hearing.
Bhargava is charged with fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.
A license merit hearing, scheduled for next month, has been canceled because Bhargava's lawyers want a criminal case against him to play out.
Bhargava is charged with fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.
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