Meerut Deputy CMO caught red-handed while taking bribe for Clinic registration

Meerut: In a recent case of bribery, the vigilance department caught deputy chief medical officer of Meerut red handed while taking bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh in the name of registration of a nursing home.

Deputy CMO Dr Ashok Nigam was heading an inquiry against a government dental surgeon, who was accused of running a private clinic in Ganganagar, Vigilance department officials told PTI.  They said Nigam had sought a bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh to make the inquiry report in favour of the dental surgeon.

 The police came into action after a complaint was filed against the Dr Nigam complaining that the CMO demanded Rs 1.5 lakh for the said registration.

Dr. Raj Kumar Chaudhary, Meerut chief medical officer, said, "I was informed about the matter when Nigam was held and taken away by the police. Nigam was heading an inquiry against one Dr. Neeraj Tomar - a government doctor, who was allegedly practicing at his wife's clinic. Since this was illegal, probe was on against him and registration of the clinic was also a matter of investigation. It has come to fore that Dr. Nigam had allegedly demanded Rs 1.5 lakh as bribe from Tomar to sort out the inquiry in his favour and also give registration to the clinic." reports TOI 

On a tip-off, a team of Vigilance officials raided the CMO office and arrested Nigam while he was accepting the bribe, Vigilance Inspector, Meerut, Bhagwan said.

Kamlesh Shukla, station house officer, Civil Lines police station, told TOI, "A trap was laid by the vigilance department after Dr. Neeraj Tomar complained about the matter to Meerut divisional commissioner. Dr. Ashok Nigam was asking for Rs 1.5 lakh as bribe to give a decision in Tomar's favour in the inquiry report. Nigam was caught red-handed as he took the phenolphthalein powder covered currency offered by Tomar."