Rajasthan ACB arrests medical officer in bribery case
Bribe
Dungarpur: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested a medical officer posted at a primary health centre (PHC) in Rajasthan's Dungarpur district for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1,000 to issue a medico-legal certificate (MLC) in an assault case.
The doctor had allegedly initially demanded Rs 10,000, with the amount later negotiated down to Rs 2,000.
The case relates to an assault incident reported at Chaurasi Police Station on October 2. Following the incident, the complainant approached the PHC at Jhothari on October 9 to obtain a medico-legal certificate required in connection with the police case. According to the ACB, the medical officer allegedly demanded Rs 10,000 to prepare the certificate. After negotiations, the amount was reportedly reduced to Rs 2,000.
According to reports, the complainant subsequently approached the ACB on October 14. Following an inquiry into the allegations, the bureau verified the bribe demand on October 31. During the verification process, the doctor allegedly accepted Rs 1,000 and asked the complainant to pay the remaining amount later.
The complainant reportedly made several attempts to obtain the certificate but could not meet the doctor. On Thursday, after the complainant contacted him again, the doctor allegedly asked him to visit the health centre. The ACB team then laid a trap. When the complainant handed over the remaining Rs 1,000, the doctor allegedly placed the money in a drawer, following which the bureau officials caught him, Dainik Bhaskar reported.
According to ACB officials, the doctor had been under surveillance for nearly a month after the complaint. The bureau also found that he frequently remained absent from the health centre despite his attendance register carrying complete signatures. His location was often traced to Udaipur or other places, while he reportedly visited the facility occasionally to sign the register.
Additional Superintendent of Police Rajendra Jain confirmed the arrest. The ACB is questioning the accused, and further legal proceedings are underway under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
