Safdarjung MS under police scanner over cheating charges

The police recently registered a case under IPC Sections 420 (cheating) and 406 (breach of trust) and 36 (criminal act done by several persons with common intention) against Dr Prasad,a Padmashree awardee,and his relative,one Virender.

Virender,the police said,mediated the deal and is absconding now.

The duo — Jagat Narayan,who is visually impaired,and S K Sinha,who is disabled — lodged a complaint with Sarojini Nagar police on August 28 after Dr Prasad started “avoiding” them when they went to get the contract allegedly promised to them. “We gave him the money in installment ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. I even sold land in my village,” Narayan said.

“But his staff has not allowed me into the hospital since August 4.”

That is when,Narayan said,he decided to take the legal recourse. The complainants knew Dr Prasad as he came from the same village in Bihar.

According to police,the complainants have said that they paid the last installment of Rs 4.25 lakh to Dr Prasad on August 4 — the money was reportedly handed over at his office.

“We have looked at the bank transaction,which proves that money has changed hands,” Ritu Raj,Inspector (Law and Order),Sarojini Nagar Police Station,said. “We are starting investigations against Dr Prasad — his relative,who mediated the deal,is absconding. We have sent a team to Nalanda in Bihar to locate him.”

The second complainant,S K Sinha,is admitted in RML Hospital after being roughed up by unknown assailants. The complainants allege the attack was made on behest of Dr Prasad.

Inspector Ritu Raj said,“We cannot comment on that right now but we will look at all angles. The victims’ statement has been recorded.”

Dr Prasad said the complainants were conspiring against him.

Sources,meanwhile,said Dr Prasad was doing the rounds of the Health Ministry on Tuesday to garner support.

Doc faces ministry probe,too
Dr Prasad has been under the scanner in the past few months after an inquiry was set up to investigate appointments made and students admitted by the medical superintendent. The probe,officials said,found that several appointments and admissions did not prescribe to norms.

The Health Ministry ordered an inquiry against Dr Prasad this July after he flouted admission rules for Diplomate of National Board (DNB) courses.

The hospital’s previous medical superintendent,Dr R N Salhan,moved court after another canteen in Safdarjung Hospital was given to a person without a competitive bidding process.

A complaint has also been filed by a Safdarjung Hospital professor at the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) for his appointment as additional director general even though he was not qualified.

Appointment of ad-hoc specialists in CTVS department as MD-MS guides is also under the Health Ministry’s scanner as the appointment was out of turn and did not follow procedures.