Forrest City Doctor Convicted, Sentenced Six Years

Dr. Sudesh Banaji, 61, of Forrest City was found guilty on Sept. 29 in St. Francis County Circuit Court of six counts of second-degree sexual assault for inappropriate sexual contact with multiple female patients during examinations at his medical clinic. The Arkansas State Police and the First Judicial District Prosecutor’s Office began investigating allegations in August 2023; special agents arrested Banaji on Aug. 26, 2024. A jury convicted him and the court sentenced him to six years to be served in the Arkansas Department of Corrections and ordered him to pay $90,000 in fines. State police confirmed the conviction and sentencing in a press release. Authorities say the charges stemmed from multiple incidents involving different patients.