Odisha Vigilance Arrests SCB Medical College Faculty in Rs 2.63 Lakh Bribery Case
In a significant crackdown on corruption in the medical sector, Odisha vigilance officials have arrested a senior faculty member from SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. The arrest was made on Thursday after authorities seized unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 2.63 lakh from the doctor.
Operation Details and Interception
According to an official vigilance release, a specialized team intercepted the senior doctor at Kathagolasahi medical road. The interception occurred while the medical professional was transporting the ill-gotten cash using his personal two-wheeler vehicle.
Investigators have alleged that the doctor had collected the substantial bribe amount from multiple bidders who were competing to secure contracts for supplying medical instruments to the hepatology department of the hospital.
Surveillance and Investigation Findings
"We had maintained close surveillance on his activities for several weeks after receiving specific information about his corrupt practices in the supplier selection process," revealed a vigilance officer involved in the operation.
During the subsequent investigation, officials uncovered disturbing details about the doctor's alleged misconduct. The medical professional, who completed his MBBS degree in 1994, had reportedly been coercing medical equipment suppliers to provide instruments to a private clinic with which he maintained connections.
Intelligence and Arrest Procedure
Another vigilance officer explained the operation's background: "We possessed credible intelligence regarding this illegal financial transaction. The operation was meticulously planned and executed, resulting in the medical faculty member being apprehended while physically carrying the cash. When questioned, he failed to provide any satisfactory explanation regarding the source of this substantial amount of money."
Officials confirmed that both the doctor's professional conduct and his departmental decisions will undergo thorough scrutiny as part of the ongoing investigation.
Post-Arrest Actions and Legal Proceedings
Following the successful operation, vigilance teams conducted simultaneous searches at three different locations connected to the arrested faculty member. These searches aimed to assess his total assets and determine whether he possessed wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The authorities have registered a formal case under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018, marking a serious legal development in this corruption investigation.
Pattern of Medical Corruption in Odisha
This incident represents the second instance this month where a medical professional has been caught in the vigilance department's anti-corruption net. On January 16, officials arrested a medical officer at the community health centre in Kaniha for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 49,000 from women community health officers. That bribe was reportedly demanded to clear their legitimate incentive payments.
The back-to-back cases highlight ongoing concerns about corruption within Odisha's medical establishment and demonstrate the vigilance department's intensified efforts to combat such unethical practices in healthcare institutions across the state.
