Cattle smuggling case: Govt Doctor compelled to prescribe 14 days of bed rest to TMC Minister

Kolkata: An hour after the CBI picked up the TMC leader Anubrata Mondal from his Bolpur residence in connection with an alleged cattle smuggling case, the medical officer at Bolpur Sub-divisional Hospital, Dr Chandranath Adhikari who had prescribed the TMC minister bed rest for 14 days went on an indefinite leave from Thursday. 

The minister, who is the TMC Birbhum president had been avoiding the summons by CBI citing health problems. The minister had attached copies of two prescriptions given by Dr Adhikari along with his letter seeking a time of two weeks to appear at their city office. 

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Dr Adhikari and two other staff members of the Bolpur subdivisional hospital had gone to the minister's house in Bolpur on Tuesday for his check-up. The team of doctors came soon after the CBI officials reached Mandal's residence at Bolpur in Birbhum district to hand over the summons for an appearance at CBI's Kolkata office on Wednesday by 11 a.m.  After that, Dr Adhikari prescribed him 'bed rest' for 14 days citing multiple health issues.

As the news went viral, the authorities of Bolpur Sub-divisional Hospital came under severe criticism, especially in view of the fact that a seven-member medical team of state-run SSKM Medical College & Hospital had, just a day ago, refused admission to Mandal saying his medical complications were not so critical and could be treated by medicines.

However, Dr Adhikari, who had issued the medical advice on plain paper, began speaking to media persons about the incident. He alleged on Wednesday that the hospital superintendent Dr Buddhadeb Murmu had forced him to prescribe bed rest to Mondal. It was alleged that they visited the house after Dr Murmu had urged them to do so.

Speaking about the leave, the doctor said, "I am really worried after the incident (arrest of Anubrata Mondal). I today went to the hospital with an application for leave. I could not submit my application but told colleagues that I needed some rest. Now I need rest.… I need to take a rest because of security concerns."

Also, Dr Adhikari revealed to the media that the request made by the minister was enough for him to write whatever the leader wanted, reports the Telegraph India. As per a source, this statement given by the doctor reveals that Mondal was an "influential" person and would help the CBI officials to establish the same with regard to the case. According to sources, the doctor who is a famous surgeon at Bolpur had gone on leave as he was afraid of the consequence of his interaction with the media. 

A health department personnel said that the visitation of a government doctor to a private residence for a check-up, as done by Dr Adhikari would likely lead to disciplinary action against him. A source from the health department stated, "The incident was very embarrassing for us and it resulted in a controversy as there was no reason to send a medical team to the house of the Trinamul leader. We would ask the CMOH (chief medical officer of health) of the district for a clarification in this connection."

After Dr Adhikari revealed the role of hospital superintendent Dr Buddhadeb Murmu, the latter had been put on the spot. Dr Adhikari said, "I was on leave Tuesday, but Dr Murmu called me up and asked me to visit Mondal's residence for a medical check-up. When I insisted that Mondal must come to the hospital for the check-up, Dr Murmu ordered me to visit his residence. Mondal asked me to prescribe him bed rest for 14 days. I then called Dr Murmu and told him since I was on leave, I had not been carrying my official letterhead. To which Dr Murmu insisted that I must write the medical advice on a plain paper."

He added, "At that moment, I thought it was wise for me to follow his advice since I live in Bolpur. However, I have been feeling bad since then as my image as a physician has been tarnished." The doctor was already on leave till August 10 and revealed that the Birbhum district administration had asked him to send a medical team to Mondal's house. He said, "Even though I am on leave, I am obliged to send a medical team after receiving instructions from the district administration."

Speaking to News18, Dr Adhikari told, "My first doubts started emerging when the superintendent told me to write a prescription prescribe a blank piece of paper. Then, while I was coming back after seeing him, a male nurse called me to say that the hospital authority had asked me not to use the hospital seal. Then their game became clear to me. My conscience pushed me to come out with the truth. If I would have been alone I would not have been afraid, but now I fear because I have a small child. We have a high-class super-speciality hospital but there are people at the lower level who are corrupt."

However, according to Bolpur Sub-Divisional Hospital deputy superintendent Diptendu Dutta, who is in charge of the hospital in Dr Murmu's absence, he had not sent any doctor to the minister's house. He said, "The superintendent is on leave till August 10, and in his absence, I am in charge. But I had not sent anyone to his (Mondal) house, and neither I have any idea about who sent them (the medical team)."

CBI officials have questioned how a doctor, who is holding the position of a state-run hospital superintendent can direct a junior doctor to issue medical advice on plain paper. The central agency officials are considering questioning Murmu in the matter.

Meanwhile, the minister once again dodged the 10th summon on Wednesday in connection with the alleged scam by using the doctors' prescription letter. Mondal's counsel on Wednesday morning dropped the letter at the central agency's office in the city, reports the Indian Express. An officer said, "We have received a communication from Mr Mondal in which he informed us about his inability to appear before our officers at our office here today. In the letter, Mr Mondal has written that he is on total bed rest as per the advice of the doctors and cannot move outside his residence. He has attached two copies of doctors' prescriptions and requested us to give him two weeks to come to our office."

The prescriptions were reportedly given by the city's SSKM Hospital and Bolpur Hospital. The minister had only appeared before the CBI twice in response to the ten summons issued by the agency. 

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