BRD ex-principal, Pushpa Sales among 6 named in FIR
LUCKNOW: Former principal of Gorakhpur’s BRD medical college Rajiv Mishra and Pushpa Sales, the company that stopped oxygen supply for non-payment of dues, are among those named in an FIR lodged in connection with the death of over 30 children in 48-hours from August 9 to August 11 in BRD medical college.
The FIR was lodged at the Hazratganj police station under section 409, 308, 120 (b) and 420 of the IPC. Besides, section 7/13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and section 15 of the Indian Medical Council Act have also been slapped on the accused. The case has been transferred to Guruliya Police Station, Gorakhpur.
“An FIR has been lodged against six BRD officials and Pushpa Sales,” confirmed a senior officer of the state government. Senior police officers are, however, keeping the FIR a closely guarded secret.
Besides Pushpa Sales and the former BRD principal, those named in the FIR include Dr Satish Kumar, head of department (anesthesia) who was responsible for ensuring uninterrupted oxygen supply there.
According to sources, the FIR has been lodged on the basis of report of the committee headed by chief secretary Rajive Kumar.
The committee comprising secretary health Alok Kumar, secretary finance Mukesh Mittal and medical superintendent of Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) Dr Hem Chandra had submitted its report to the chief minister on Tuesday.
Sources said BRD chief pharmacist Gajanan Jaiswal too had been named for not maintaining logbook and overwriting on the stock book etc. Dr Purnima Shukla, wife of former medical college principal, has also been named. Shukla used to work as the de-facto principal of the medical college in the absence of her husband. Both Jaiswal and Shukla have been booked under Prevention of Corruption Act.
Kafil Khan, incharge Japanse Encephalitis ward, has also been named for negligence and indulging in private practice etc. Two to three staff members of accounts department have been held responsible for not processing file about payment of bills.
LUCKNOW:Despite the Yogi Adityanath government’s order to lodge FIRs against officials allegedly responsible for the BRD Medical College tragedy in Gorakhpur, no action could be taken till Wednesday evening as confusion prevailed over the sections under which the accused should be booked.
High drama was witnessed at Hazratganj police station throughout the night on Tuesday. The staff from chief secretary Rajive Kumar ‘s office reached the police station to lodge FIRs against six people but the police could not decide on the sections under which cases should be registered. And the government officials were no less confused.
No FIR could be lodged till Wednesday morning.
At least 33 children had died at the encephalitis ward of the BRD Medical College between August 9 and 10 allegedly due to disruption in oxygen supply.
The state government took the decision to lodge an FIR after a four-member probe committee, headed by chief secretary Rajive Kumar, submitted its report to chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday.
Other members of the committee included secretary, medical education, Alok Kumar, secretary, finance, Mukesh Mittal and medical superintendent, SGPGI, Lucknow, Dr Hemchandra.
Cracking the whip on Tuesday, the state government also shifted senior officials of the health department, including principal secretary, medical education, Anita Bhatnagar Jain, and director general, medical education, KK Gupta.
Former principal of BRD Medical College Dr Rajeev Mishra, his wife Dr Purnima Shukla, head of the paediatric department and in-charge of encephalitis ward Dr Kafeel Khan are likely to face action.
After the reports of lodging of FIR reached Gorakhpur, Dr Mishra and his wife left their official accommodation on the hospital campus.