A Roorkee-based doctor has alleged that top officials of the Health Department are unduly harassing him and have seized his ultrasound machine. Dr KK Aahuja accused Additional Director (PNDT) Dr Saroj Naithani and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Haridwar Dr Sushma Gupta of mental harassment. To cross check The Pioneer called Dr Naithani and Dr Gupta over their mobile but they did not respond.
Aahuja levelled these serious allegations against these two health officials while addressing newsmen here on Thursday. Narrating the events he said that a raid by the Health Department was conducted at his clinic on June 6 last year but nothing illegal was found by the team. A second team conducted raids at the clinics of Aahuja and JP Garg on December 18. Aahuja claimed that many irregularities were found at the clinic of Garg but was left off the hook while his (Aahuja’s) ultrasound machine was sealed despite the fact that no irregularities were found. Aahuja said that when Naithani who was leading the team which raided his clinic found nothing objectionable, she asked for bribe of Rs5 lakhs.
He said that when he rejected the demand of bribe Naithani started asking for documents of people on whom the ultrasound was conducted between the periods of January 12-September 12. Aahuja told her that these documents were sent to the health department and asked for some time so that the documents could be retrieved from the health department. “Naithani refused to give time and started abusing me and sealed the machine despite all my valid pleas” Aahuja said.
A harried Aahuja later pleaded before the District Magistrate of Haridwar Nidhi Pandey who freed the machine after getting a written assurance from Aahuja that he will not initiate any legal action against the health department.
Aahuja alleged that after his machine was freed the CMO Gupta summoned him to her office and demanded bribe which he refused. He claimed that Naithani and Gupta conspired against him and appealed to Additional Secretary legal against the order of DM to free the machine. The Additional secretary nullified the orders of DM and the machine was again sealed.
Aahuja said that he is running from pillar to post free his machine and is undergoing severe mental harassment and economic loss as the machine is his only source of livelihood.