Unable to pay Rs 10 lakh hospital bill, father goes missing in Karnataka

BENGALURU: A man has gone missing after failing to pay the hospital bill of Rs 10 lakh incurred towards medical treatment of his newborn son.
The missing man has been identified as Purushottam VV, resident of Vidyaranyapura and technician with a private hospital. Purushottam's father G Venkatappa filed a complaint with Sadashivanagar police, saying his son went missing from a private hospital on New BEL Road on May 26 night.
Purushottam had been told by the hospital that his baby was being discharged that day and he was handed over a bill of Rs 10 lakh . But he stepped out and later became incommunicado, said Venkatappa. Police said they are collecting CCTV footage to search for Purushottam, who has switched off his mobile phone.
"The boy was born on February 9 and was suffering from lung infection and related health issues. Initially, the infant was treated in a private hospital in Vidyaranyapura and on the doctor's advice, he was shifted to the hospital on New BEL Road. My son was worried about the treatment and cost. But we never thought he will go away," Venkatappa said, adding: "After Purushottam went missing, we raised hand loans and paid about Rs 10 lakh towards the bill. On Monday, we got the boy discharged and took him to Purushottam's in-laws' house in Mandya."