A medical officer posted at the Roorkee Civil Hospital was arrested by Uttarakhand Vigilance officials on 27th December, after being caught allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000. The action was taken late on Saturday evening after a complaint prompted a formal trap operation.
The accused has been identified as Dr. Abhay Singh, from Bihar as reported by TOI, a medical officer serving at the Civil Hospital in Roorkee, Haridwar district Uttarakhand. According to vigilance officials, he joined the hospital this month after being transferred from Mussoorie. Dr. Singh sought a bribe of 30,000 in the name of preparing a supplementary medical legal report (MLR) for a person injured in an assault case. The complainant informed the Dehradun Vigilance team about the alleged demand.
Vigilance officials then coordinated with the complainant and set up a trap operation at the hospital. The complainant approached the doctor and Dr. Singh was apprehended red-handed while accepting Rs 20,000. The entire amount was recovered by investigators.
Vigilance officials confirmed that Dr. Singh was taken into custody immediately after being arrested. Officials stated that strict legal action will be pursued following further examination of the case. Details regarding potential departmental actions by the health department or hospital administration have not yet been disclosed publicly.
Instances of corruption and bribery in public service sectors, including healthcare, are subject to investigation by vigilance and anti-corruption units across Indian states. Such actions reinforce existing laws under the Prevention of Corruption Act and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code that govern misconduct by public officials.
Vigilance departments regularly respond to complaints of bribery and corruption, using trap operations to gather evidence and apprehend officials allegedly involved in corrupt practices.
Doctors and medical officers in government hospitals are public servants bound by ethical standards and statutory duties to provide care and issue medical documentation such as medical legal reports (MLRs) without undue influence or personal gain.
An MLR is a medical document often required by law enforcement or judicial authorities that outlines the nature and extent of injuries in cases such as assault, accidents, or other medicolegal matters. It is intended to assist investigations and should be prepared on an objective basis according to medical examination findings.
Seeking or accepting bribes for preparation of such reports or for any official work compromises medical ethics and public trust in healthcare services and is subject to legal action.
(Rh/TL)