Official caught taking bribe for free virus test

Medical officer from Daund sub-district hospital demanded Rs 1,500 from firm owner to test his staff

With the diversion of the entire development funds towards the establishment of health facilities and treatment and rehabilitation of COVID-19 patients, the civic budgets have already been stretched. In order to eradicate the pandemic, priority was given to free testing and treatments in all COVID-19 care centres (CCCs) and hospitals. However, a medical officer from Daund sub-district hospital was caught red-handed on Monday by Pune unit of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

He was held while accepting money from suspected patients visiting the facility with an intent to get free COVID tests.

The arrested medical officer was identified as Milind Damodar Kamble (38).

Kamble was allegedly caught accepting Rs 1,500 in all from the owner of a private firm who had taken his 19 employees to conduct rapid antigen tests. The firm employer wanted to enrol these employees in his factory, and as a mandatory norm had visited the testing centre to conduct COVID tests from a government facility.

The accused allegedly refused to submit the test reports unless he was paid Rs 1,900 (Rs 100 for each staff) from the firm owner. The owner bargained for Rs 1,500 and Kamble settled for the sum. The firm owner informed about this deal to the Pune unit of ACB on Saturday. Subsequently, a trap was laid on Monday.

The team caught Kamble red-handed while accepting the bribe. Sunil Bile, inspector attached with Pune unit of ACB, said, “We have registered the offence with Daund police station under section 7 (taking bribe) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.”

“The accused was deployed on a temporary basis at the hospital as a medical officer in the wake of the surge in virus cases. His initial posting is with Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK),” informed the officer.

Shrihari Patil, deputy commissioner of police (DCP-ACB), added, “We have appealed to people to approach ACB, Pune, if there is demand from any CCC or testing centre where the government provides free treatment. The names of the complainant will be kept secret to avoid any further trouble.”