M A I N   N E W S

CPS lifts her ‘veil’ in drama over arrest of Sangrur govt doctor
Sanjeev Singh Bariana & Akash Ghai/TNS

Chandigarh/Mohali, August 30
For those looking for drama in the dull life of government servants, here's one with a post script: a chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) poses as a veiled Muslim woman patient and busts a high-ranking government doctor moonlighting at a private hospital in Mohali. The doctor, due to retire a day later, cries foul but is suspended.

The Mohali police said Dr Sameer Kaushal has been arrested under sections 420 (cheating) and 168 (public servants unlawfully engaging in trade) of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act. Dr Kaushal is the Medical Officer Sangrur and claims he is a trustee of Amar Hospital, Mohali Sector 70. Dr Kaushal is posted at the Community Health Centre of Kauhrian village.

It all began around 11 am on Thursday when 'Nafisa' arrived at the hospital complaining of an excruciating stomachache. Dr Kaushal came out of his room of the super specialty hospital and asked 'Nafisa' to lift her veil so that he could examine her. When 'Nafisa' refused, the doctor asked his staff to rush her to the emergency.

As soon as Dr Kaushal began the check-up, a team of cameramen descended on the scene. The veil was gone and out came CPS Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, MLA, Amritsar East. She showed the cameraman the doctor's name on the display board and his visiting hours: 10 am to 2 pm and 6 pm to 8 pm.

A flummoxed Dr Kaushal clearly looked pale. "It's a frame-up. She (Navjot) was a year junior to me in the medical college. Maybe, she had some axe to grind. There is no reason why my hospital should have been raided a day before my retirement", he said. Dr Navjot Kaur said: "Does that mean we should absolve him of all his wrong doings? It is a question of professional accountability and not of any school bonding."

Dr Kaushal has been suspended immediately. An official spokesperson said en inquiry was on as to how the MO was allowed long absence from his official duty.

Dr Navjot Kaur said the Civil Surgeon Sangrur had written to her about the the doctor's absence. She said "I had received a complaint from Punjab Panchayats president Lachhman Singh Chatha that the doctor was never present on duty. I had requested the Civil Surgeon to conduct an inquiry, but I did not get any reply. That's why I decided to check the centre myself."

Dr Kaushal said he had given a notice for his premature retirement on May 30.

Doc in the dock