A whopping Rs 12,34,141 has been spent towards medical treatment of as many as four former and current Ministers of the State from the State exchequer during 2005 to 2014, revealed sources.
As per information provided by the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry PIO on an RTI application filed by rights activist Pradip Pradhan, former Minister and Digapahandi MlA Surjya Narayan Patro topped the list with receiving a total of Rs 5,43,513 for treatment in a phased manner like in December 2007 (Rs 41,381), in January 2008 (Rs 18,09,42), in 2009 (Rs 21,190) and in October 2013 (Rs 3 lakh), followed by former Minister and Puri MlA Maheswar Mohanty with Rs 3,66,656 (in two phases Rs 2,95,331 in June 2012 and Rs 71,325 in August 2012), School and Mass Education Minister Rs 3,18,035 in May this year and former Rural Development Minister Biswa Bhusan Harichandan availing Rs 5,937 in January 2005.