Bhopal: A 26-year-old woman on Tuesday delivered a stillborn child under a tree in the compound of state-government run Sultania hospital, after she was allegedly not admitted to a ward and refused medical care.

In his complaint, district's Gehukheda area resident Ajmer Khan (30) alleged that his wife Rubina Bi reached Sultania hospital at around 6 am, but was refused admission.

The woman later delivered a stillborn boy at around 10 am in the hospital's compound, Talaiya police station Sub-Inspector Umesh Singh Chauhan said.

Police have started investigation in the matter based on the complaint, Chauhan said.

After post-mortem report and investigation, we will register a case against the guilty, he said.

"The concerned people at the hospital asked us to shell out Rs 1,000 to admit Rubina. However, we refused to accept it," Ajmer told reporters.

He said that at around 8 am his wife started having pains after which she delivered the stillborn baby under a Neem tree.

Later, a group of locals gathered and staged a protest against the hospital.

"They took my wife and the child inside, but by that time it was too late. Had the hospital helped us in time, this tragedy could have been averted," a distraught Ajmer said.