PGI panel, vigilance officer submit different reports

The PGI committee stated that inquiry is no longer required in the case. However, senior administrative officer submitted a report stating that the case was not properly inquired.

In an alleged bribe case against a resident doctor of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research last year, the investigative committee and the senior vigilance officer recorded different observations.

Last year, Kharar resident Taruntej Singh had alleged that the resident doctor posted in the department of transfusion demanded Rs 200 for providing blood at the PGI blood bank. Soon, PGI formed a committee to probe the case. The blood is available for free at the institute.

The complainant had also alleged that the resident doctor abused and slapped him.

The file accessed by the Newsline revealed that two different versions were recorded in the case.

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The committee stated that inquiry is no longer required in the case. However, senior administrative officer (vigilance), PGI, Kewal Sharma, who was also a part of the committee, submitted a report stating that the case was not properly inquired.

Sharma raised several questions about the inquiry and said no satisfactory answer was given to why the security guard gave back the money to the complainant. The complainant had alleged that the security guard put the money (given to the accused doctor) into his pocket after the brawl.

The senior vigilance officer also stated that “question arises if undue influence has not been generated by the accused doctor”. The officer’s note ended saying that the “case has not been properly inquired”.

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The final report of the committee, which was headed by Amita Trehan from the department of paediatrics, stated that “inquiry into the complaint against the resident doctor for taking bribe and manhandling is no longer required”.

It said that during the investigation, the committee chairperson received some documents from the accused doctor that mentioned that he and the complainant had reached a compromise. “Subsequent interview with the complainant… he categorically stated that he withdrew the complaint of his own voluntary accord and without any compulsion or coercion from anyone”.

PGI spokeswoman Manju Wadwalkar did not provide any information about the case for two days. Chairperson Amita Trehan also refused to comment on the issue.

The PGI anti-corruption front demanded that the strength of the vigilance cell be increased. “No committee has ever acted against any doctor. It is a serious matter. The vigilance cell should investigate the matter and action should be taken against the accused doctor,” chairman, Anti-Corruption Front, Subhash Chander said.

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