Sonepur District Headquarters Hospital ophthalmologist caught taking bribes to conduct surgery

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An ophthalmologist of Sonepur District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in India was caught by Odisha Vigilance officials accepting a bribe to perform cataract surgery.

Sanjib Kumar Kar, MBBS, MD, was caught taking a bribe of ₹5,500 (~$65 USD) from a complainant for conducting surgery on his uncle, Vigilance officials said, while the surgery is done free of cost in all government-run hospitals across the State.

Vigilance officials said the complainant expressed he could not pay the bribe due to financial constraints, but Kar refused to do the surgery unless paid the money. The complainant, Hadu Pradhan, informed vigilance officials about the illegal demand by the doctor.

“Based on the above complaint, the vigilance officials laid a trap and held Dr. Kar red-handed while accepting Rs 5,500 as bribe from the complainant,” said a vigilance official.

After apprehending Kar, Vigilance officials conducted simultaneous searches at his government quarters on DHH campus and at his clinic in Sonepur’s Kalapathar village, with searches also conducted at his house in Balangir town. Officials seized ₹206,000 cash (~$2470 USD) from the accused’s property in Sonepur and Balangir after he failed to explain the source of the money.

References:

1. Odisha: Ophthalmologist in vigilance net for taking Rs 5,550 bribe from daily wager to perform surgery. Accessed November 30, 2023. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2023/nov/28/odisha-ophthalmologistin-vigilance-net-for-taking-rs5550-bribe-from-daily-wagerto-perform-surgery-2636795.html

2. Odisha: Ophthalmologist held while taking bribe from patient. Accessed November 30, 2023. https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1143923

3. Subarnapur DHH doctor held taking bribe. Accessed November 30, 2023. https://www.dailypioneer.com/2023/state-editions/subarnapur-dhh-doctor-held-taking-bribe.html