Vigilance sleuths on Saturday detected assets worth over `56 lakh in the name of absconding Government doctor Motilal Gouda after a simultaneous house search of his Government quarter in Bhubaneswar, native house in Gajapati and in-laws’ place in Brahmapur.
The anti-corruption wing cops are also searching the premises of at least five pathological laboratories elsewhere in the State, with whom Gouda was associated having dubious deals with them.
“Since the searches are in progress, more assets in his name will be detected,” said a release issued by the Vigilance Directorate here.
Earlier booked by the Economic Offences Wing of the Crime Branch police, the suspended Assistant Director of Factories and Boilers has been absconding ever since the Orissa High Court refused to grant him anticipatory bail on June 24 and lifted the interim protection (restraining the police to arrest) given to him.
Gouda is suspected to be the mastermind behind the recent issuance of a fake gazette notification in which corporate houses and private companies were asked to get their employees’ health checkups in certain selected pathological laboratories. He allegedly received huge kickbacks from these empanelled laboratories.
While the Crime Branch cops are investigating into his criminal misconduct, Vigilance sleuths on Friday booked the 34-year-old doctor on corruption charges.
A 2007-batch MBBS, Gouda joined as an insurance medical officer in the Directorate of ESI under the labour Department in April 2009. However in June 2012, he was promoted and deputed to the Directorate of Factories and Boilers.
Within a short span of seven years in Government service, Gouda made huge fortunes after establishing close links with a couple of Ministers and half a dozen ruling BJD MlAs. Gouda was enjoying such a political clout that the police were initially reluctant to register an FIR against him despite his criminal and corruption activities came out in open.
Meanwhile, Opposition Congress and BJP on Saturday charged that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik himself is involved in the absconding of Gouda.
“Nothing will come out from the probe as they (Crime Branch Special DG BK Sharma and Vigilance Director RP Sharma) are busy competing for the DGP post. Further, the Third Floor (CM”s office) is intervening in the probe process too. How can we expect an impartial probeIJ Hence, the probe will solve no purpose,” said PCC president Prasad Harichandan.
BJP MlA Pradip Purohit held the Chief Minister directly responsible, saying that what has happened till now involving Gouda is only due to the softness of the Chief Minister towards him.