Bombay HC notice to Saibaba Trust on alleged corruption by 2 doctors

Mumbai/Shirdi, May 14: The Bombay High Court has issued notices to Saibaba Sansthan Trust in Shirdi and police on a plea seeking registration of case against two cardiologists of a Trust-run hospital for alleged malpractices in purchase of medical equipment.

The notices were issued by Justices Indira Jain and T L Nalawade of the Aurangabad bench on May 7 to Saibaba Trust which runs the Shri Saibaba Hospital, Shirdi police station and superintendent of police, Ahmednagar. [Sai Baba not a God, he was a Muslim: Shakaracharya]

The HC has sought their response by June 24. The judges also directed the public prosecutor to produce papers of investigation, if any, in the matter, on June 24.

The HC was hearing a petition filed by activist Sanjay Kale alleging that two heart specialists posted with the hospital, which mainly caters to the poor and needy people, had indulged in illegalities, thereby committing various cognisable offences.

The petition said the doctors allegedly accepted bribes in the form of 'commission' from companies while purchasing material like stents, balloons and devices which are used in treatment of heart patients.

"The doctors exerted undue influence by misusing their official position to pressurise the seller companies to make them sell products like stents, balloons and other devices at higher rate. They did not make attempts to get reduction in prices of the products by seeking discounts, allegedly for monetary benefits," said the petition.

It said the Trust had issued show cause notices to the cardiologists on a complaint filed against them for alleged corrupt practices and that they have filed their replies to the notices.

The petition alleged that despite a complaint, Saibaba Trust as well as local police failed to register an FIR against the doctors. It prayed for a direction to the Saibaba Trust and police to register FIR against the doctors.

PTI