KANPUR: A local court has taken a strict view of the sudden hospitalisation of two doctors arrested for allegedly taking bribes to pass candidates in the Home Guard recruitment medical examination. The two doctors, Dr Praveen Kumar and Dr Mahesh Dwivedi, along with driver Ajit, had remained in police custody at the Kotwali police station for 16 hours without raising any health complaints. However, when police brought them to Ursala Hospital at around 3 pm for a routine medical check prior to being sent to jail, the doctors were placed in wheelchairs within minutes, and paperwork certifying fatal and life-threatening conditions was prepared to facilitate their immediate admission. Viewing the matter seriously, the court directed the formation of a medical board to re-examine both accused and ordered copies of its directions to be sent to the District Judge, District Magistrate, Police Commissioner, Chief Medical Officer, and the state administration. Notice was also issued to Dr Sapan Gupta of Ursala Hospital, though both doctors were eventually sent to jail late on Saturday night.
Sudden Illness After Hours in Custody
The accused were arrested following allegations of accepting bribes from candidates during the Home Guard recruitment medical exams. Throughout their 16-hour stay at the Kotwali police station, they sat on chairs and made no mention of any medical distress to the police. Upon their arrival at Ursala Hospital, however, they were seen stepping briskly out of the police vehicle and walking toward the outpatient department, a development captured in a video that subsequently circulated on social media. Despite walking into the hospital unaided, their medical condition was documented as critical within moments, prompting their admission to the intensive care unit.
Referrals Terminated as Specialist Hospitals Declare Both Doctors Fit
According to ACP Kotwali Amit Pandey, Dr Praveen Kumar was kept in the intensive care unit at Ursala Hospital for a day before being referred to a cardiology facility on grounds of angina and cardiac complications. Dr Mahesh Dwivedi was referred to Hallet Hospital for an alleged severe spinal issue. When police escorted Dr Praveen Kumar to the cardiology facility later that evening, doctors examined him, found him clinically fit, and refused admission. Hallet Hospital authorities similarly evaluated Dr Mahesh Dwivedi and declared him fit. Following the clearance from both medical institutions, police transferred both doctors to jail late on Saturday night. Meanwhile, hospital authorities have intervened internally, with Ursala Hospital Director Dr Seema Srivastava issuing a notice to emergency medical officer Dr Sapan Gupta, asking him to explain why he was handling outdoor emergency duties despite being assigned to the indoor emergency wing when he admitted the two doctors.
Driver Ajit Granted Relief Due to Lack of Direct Evidence
In a related development, driver Ajit has received legal relief in the case. Former DGC senior advocate Piyush Shukla stated that while recruitment candidates had alleged that cash was handed over to the driver, police failed to recover any money from his possession. Counsel pointed out that the driver is not a government employee, no bribe money was recovered from him, and investigators were unable to prove his presence at the recruitment examination venue, preventing police from establishing a direct link between him and the alleged bribery offense.
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