Medical Officer in Roorkee Caught Accepting Bribe
Incident Overview
In a startling incident, a medical officer stationed at the Civil Hospital in Roorkee was apprehended by the Vigilance Establishment team for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000.
Background of the Medical Officer
The doctor, originally from Ara in Bihar, had recently joined the hospital after being transferred from Mussoorie earlier this month.
Details of the Corruption Case
According to the Vigilance Department, the medical officer demanded Rs 30,000 from a victim of an assault case under the guise of preparing a supplementary legal report. The victim promptly reported this demand to the Dehradun Vigilance team, leading to the planning of a sting operation to catch the officer in the act.
Sting Operation and Arrest
Vigilance officials, along with the complainant, arrived at the Civil Hospital in Roorkee, where the complainant arranged to deliver the money near the blood bank. The doctor was caught red-handed while accepting Rs 20,000 at his official residence, and the entire bribe amount was recovered on-site.
Legal Proceedings and Investigations
The doctor was taken into custody and presented before the designated court in Dehradun. Officials indicated that further investigations are ongoing and emphasized that strict legal action will be pursued against corruption.
Corruption Trends in Government Employees
The Vigilance Establishment Unit (VEU) officials noted that corruption among government employees remains a persistent issue in the state. Since 2010, over 253 officials have been apprehended by the department. The year 2024 has seen the highest number of cases, with more than 36 officials caught, and over 20 officials have already been apprehended this year.
Public Appeal for Reporting Corruption
VEU director Dr. V. Murugesan urged the public to report any instances of bribery demanded by government officials, assuring that complainants’ identities would be kept strictly confidential and that swift action would be taken on all complaints.
Related Incident: Jaipur Doctor Arrested for Bribery
In a related development, a doctor in Jaipur, acting as an Ayushman Bharat investigator, was arrested for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 11 lakh from Siddhivinayak Hospital in Bhilwara to clear its Ayushman Arogya Yojana bills.