MP CM meets murder accused in hospital

Indore, Jan 3 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's drive to improve the local Maharaja Yashwantrao Hospital, the state's largest such facility, has stirred a hornet's nest as, during an inspection of the hospital, Mr Chouhan allegedly had a discussion with Mr Vimal Tomar who is one of those accused of murdering Ujjain's Prof Harbhajan Singh Sabharwal.

During yesterday's inspection, the chief minister ordered the suspension of Mr M K Saraswat -- who is the dean of the Mahatma Gandhi Medical College affiliated to the hospital -- and issuance of a show cause notice to hospital Superintendent C S Kulkarni.

Mr Chouhan met patients including Mr Tomar. ''He was referred to us from Ujjain following a cardiac ailment,'' said Dr Kulkarni who could not provide the precise date of Mr Tomar's admission. He is one of the Sabharwal case's five accused who were incarcerated at Ujjain.

''The chief minister met Mr Tomar under the pretext of inspecting the facility. The dean was suspended as he was not cooperating with Mr Tomar in undertaking certain activities at the hospital. The Congress will stage a protest demonstration later today,'' alleged Congress city President Pramod Tandon.

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