Doctor posted in 3 districts at once, fraud exposed after arrest in bribery case
A bribery case in Madhya Pradesh has snowballed into a major administrative controversy after a contractual doctor, caught accepting a Rs 5,000 bribe in Shahdol
A bribery case in Madhya Pradesh has snowballed into a major administrative controversy after a contractual doctor, caught accepting a Rs 5,000 bribe in Shahdol, was found to be simultaneously posted in three different districts. The revelation has raised serious questions over how the health department processed attendance and salary records without detecting the apparent irregularity. Following the disclosure, the Khargone Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) has ordered an inquiry. Read Full Story BRIBERY CASE EXPOSES MULTIPLE POSTINGS On July 3, the Rewa Lokayukta team arrested contractual Medical Officer Dr Mahesh Chand Sharma while allegedly accepting a Rs 5,000 bribe at the Ufri Primary Health Centre in Shahdol district.
The investigation that followed uncovered another startling detail. Officials found that Dr Sharma's name was recorded as a contractual Medical Officer not only in Shahdol but also in Khargone and Sheopur districts. According to official records, Dr Sharma has been shown as serving at the Primary Health Centre in Keli, under Segaon block of Khargone district, since February 2023. The disclosure has sparked questions over how one doctor could be posted in three districts at the same time and whether his attendance and salary were being verified properly. CMHO ORDERS PROBE Khargone CMHO Dr D S Chauhan has directed the Block Medical Officer of Segaon to conduct a detailed inquiry into the matter.
He has sought records related to Dr Sharma's appointment, attendance register, salary payments, leave records, joining report and other service documents. Dr Chauhan said he came to know about the matter through media reports. He admitted that if salary payments were made despite the irregularity, it would point to a clear lapse in the system. He added that a detailed report would also be sent to the Health Mission's Managing Director. QUESTIONS OVER MONITORING The case has put the spotlight on the health department's monitoring mechanism, with questions being raised over how a contractual doctor could remain officially posted in three districts without triggering any red flags.
The inquiry is expected to determine at what level the alleged irregularities in appointment, attendance verification and salary disbursal occurred, and who was responsible for the lapse. Ends
The BriefWire