GORAKHPUR HOSPITAL CHILD DEATHS: DOCTOR KAFEEL GETS BAIL

The Allahabad High Court has granted bail to the doctor, Kafeel Ahmad Khan, who was arrested in connection with death of several children in Baba Raghav Das Medical College at Gorakhpur, allegedly after oxygen supply to the hospital was disrupted.

Over 30 children had died at the medical college on August 10-11 last year.

Justice Yashwant Varma granted the bail after hearing counsel representing Kafeel’s and state government in the case. The court also specified conditions, including that the applicant shall not tamper with the records/documents related to the case and not threaten or attempt to influence any witnesses in the case.

Last year, UP STF had arrested Kafeel near Kalesar in Sahjanwa when he was on the way to Gorakhpur. He was in jail for more than seven months.

Earlier bail application of Dr Kafeel was rejected by the lower court, after which he approached the high court on February 16, 2018. After hearing his bail application, the court had granted time to the state government to file it’s counter affidavit in the case.

Later on, the state government filed counter affidavit and on March 30, advocate of Kafeel filed his rejoinder affidavit.

Gorakhpur police has already dropped charges of corruption and private practice against Kafeel, who was the head of the encephalitis ward and an assistant professor of paediatrics.

Kafeel was removed as nodal officer at the National Health Mission.

ALLAHABAD: