Raipur Central Jail Medical Officer accused of favouring affluent inmates
| Date :30-Dec-2019 |
Staff Reporter :
RAIPUR,
Dr Khandekar is one of the three MOs appointed by the State Health Department to look after the medical condition of the inmates at the Raipur Central Jail Hospital
A series of serious allegations of corruption has been made against the Raipur Central Jail Medical Officer (MO) Dr Ajay Khandekar, posted at 40-bedded infirmary of State’s biggest correctional institution here. Very often, Dr Khandekar has been accused of giving ‘preferential’ treatment to affluent inmates while concurrently denying timely medical attention to other jail inmates of downtrodden background. Dr Khandekar happens to be one of the three MOs appointed by the State Health Department to look after the medical condition of the inmates at the Raipur Central Jail Hospital.
These MOs discharge their allotted duties including the task of performing medical check-up of inmates at the time of their admission into jail. This arduous task also comprise of making a Descriptive Roll (DR) of the incoming inmates, which elaborates about any visible injuries on their bodies, in addition to their self-description about any existing ailment or medical condition.
The DR process ensures the medical contingencies to be put in place if condition of any inmate deteriorates during their stay in the jail premises. While many complaints have been made to the Jail Headquarters against the errant MO, senior officials still need more specific complaints made in recent to decide their further course of action against the doctor in dock. It is pertinent here to mention that the Chhattisgarh Human Rights Commission (CHRC) is already investigating Dr Ajay Khandekar after a prisoner referred to Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital (BRAMH) died. Dr Ajay Khandekar had mentioned about two injuries in the body of a jail inmate Sonu Dubey in his ‘DR’ before referring him to BRAMH. Later, the post-mortem report revealed 17 injuries in the body of Sonu Dubey.
The CHRC probe is trying to establish the severe nature of the allegations against Dr Khandekar for his alleged negligence into delayed referral of inmate Sonu Dubey, who eventually died. Another prisoner Baliram’s health deteriorated owing to Tuberculosis as he was deprived of proper medical attention for failing to grease the palm of Dr Ajay. Baliram was on the verge of death when another Doctor noticed him and initiated critical medical care. Deputy Inspector General Jail (DIG) cum Raipur Central Jail Superintendent Dr KK Gupta stated that assured of investigation on getting the written complaints and observing all the official records. Jail and Home Guards Director General (DG) Sanjay Pillay stated whatever action is needed will be taken. Raipur Collector Dr S Bhartidasan stated “A report will be sought from the jail Superintendent in this regard and the report will be sent to the GOVT for further action.
Dr Ajay Khandekar refutes allegations MO Dr Ajay Khandekar, on being contacted by The Hitavada, refuted the allegations of corrupt practices either by him or at his behest. He also denied the charges of accepting any monetary gain by the misuse of his post to extent ‘undue’ medical favours to any of the inmates, whether rich or poor. “As a doctor, my duty is to ensure impartial and thorough medical examination of the inmates needing any sort of treatment or intervention at the jail hospital. Sometimes, critical cases also call for referring inmates to BRAMH or any private hospital, depending on the situation,” Dr Khandekar asserted. Dr Khandekar, however, was not sure if it was his negligence that led to death of inmate Sonu Dubey. “His DR was performed as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SoP), during which pre-existing injuries were found and were duly mentioned,” he added. Dr Khandekar, but failed to explain or justify about more than a dozen injury marks found on the body of inmate Sonu Dubey, which was revealed in his autopsy report.