Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar : The state inquiry into alleged irregularities at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has moved to the next stage, with health activists and former members of the board of visitors summoned to appear before the probe committee on Friday.
On Oct 3, the panel members visited GMCH, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, to retrieve bills, work orders, and rate comparison charts, among other details concerning the alleged irregularities, corruption, and inflated procurement. The inquiry panel has been mandated to investigate the sanctioning of 27 ‘small constructions’ worth around Rs50 crore—allegedly executed without proper authorisation—the purchase of drugs and machinery at inflated rates, and a Rs33 lakh expenditure recorded for a 30-minute in-house event.
The inquiry must be fair and speedy, and panel members must not succumb to any pressure or allurements,” a senior doctor from GMCH said on the condition of anonymity. The four-member panel, headed by Dr Sushil Deshmukh, dean of GMCH, Nanded, has directed Pravin Shinde and Iqbal Singh Gill to appear in person with documents and submissions related to complaints filed through the state’s ‘Aaple Sarkar’ grievance portal. However, during that visit, the panel did not officially record the complainants’ testimonies, forcing them to lodge fresh complaints on the ‘Aaple Sarkar’ portal. These matters revolve around Dr Shivaji Sukre, who holds the additional charge as dean of GMCH and is currently under scrutiny. Several insiders from the hospital have called for a rigorous investigation by the panel. “The reputation and image of GMCH have suffered like never before, eroding the faith of underprivileged patients.
Stay updated with the latest Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar news. The hearing will be held at the regional office of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research ( DMER ) in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Dr Syeda Afroz Fatima, dean of GMCH, Jalna, serves as the member secretary of the panel. Its other members include Dr Prakash Gattani, head of the pharmacology department at GMCH, Jalna, and JS Lakhade, administrative officer at DMER, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Download the TOI App.