Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Doc caught on camera demanding bribe; govt initiates inquiry

TNN | Updated: Sep 26, 2017, 23:43 IST

Chennai: The state health department has initiated an inquiry into graft charges against the director of Regional Institute of Ophthalmology after a video of him demanding a bribe of Rs 500 to issue a disability certificate to a person with partial blindness.

On Tuesday, citizen action group Arappor Iyakkam released a video of Dr K Sridhar demanding bribe from one of its volunteers. The volunteer, a mechanical engineer who did not wish to be named, suffered from a degenerative eye condition. He was directed by the collectorate in Thiruvarur to get the disability certificate from Chennai as the unit concerned did not have the infrastructure to test his condition.

"Two years ago, when I needed a disability certificate, I was referred to Dr Sridhar. He, in turn, had asked me to meet him at his private clinic in Kolathur, where he used a government seal and asked me to pay Rs 1,000," the youth told TOI. This time, when he was referred, he was better prepared. The video, shot a week ago, shows the doctor signing the youngster's paper and then demanding Rs 500. "I have been cheated by six other people in the past who said they would pay later," the doctor said in the footage.

State health secretary J Radhakrishnan said a two member committee comprising deputy director Dr R Geetha and Kilpauk medical college dean Dr Vasanthamani Palanisamy will hold an inquiry. "

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