A contractual doctor  of  the Hemgiri CHC had allegedly  taken Rs1,500 as bribe from  the family members of a deceased for  providing free ambulance  service  to  carry the body  and  the driver of ambulance  also  took Rs400.

However, later  fearing  that  he would  be  exposed,  the   doctor returned  the money to  the  family  members  and  money receipt  was also provided  towards  cost  of  travel in  ambulance. The CDMO, Sundargarh, has ordered an inquiry into the matter.

Sources  said one Suren  Ekka, a  resident of Bansidarah village under Ankelbira  panchayat under the Hemgiri   police station had been struck by lightning  on June 24 and was admitted at the Kanika primary health  center  and  later at the Hemgiri  CHC.

A contractual doctor, identified as Harish Chandra Bag, who was on duty in the Hemgiri CHC at that time,  instead of informing police , demanded bribe Rs1,500 from  family members of Ekka to  provide ambulance to take the body to his residence.

Further, the driver of the ambulance while taking the body left it at their village  square and demanded Rs400 from  them which should  have  be Rs240 per km. Suren’s  brother- in- law Bijay alleged that they had paid the bribe to the doctor for the ambulance.

While the matter was reported  in  media, Bag  allegedly  returned the money to  the  family members, while the driver of the ambulance also returned Rs140 and gave  money receipt for Rs260. The family members of Ekka alleged that Dr Bag asked them  not to reveal about  the matter to anyone.

Meanwhile, Sundargarh CDMO SB Nayak  ordered a probe into the matter.