Dr Khan, who was in-charge of the encephalitis ward of the hospital where the deaths took place, had gained prominence after it emerged that in the midst of the tragedy
Almost three months after the Uttar Pradesh Police Special Task Force arrested him in the aftermath of the deaths of 33 children at the BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur on August 10-11, the police have dropped charges related to corruption and running a private practice against Dr Kafeel Ahmed Khan. However, charges under Indian Penal Code sections pertaining to criminal breach of trust, criminal conspiracy and attempt to commit culpable homicide are still pending against him.
Dr Khan, who was in-charge of the encephalitis ward of the hospital where the deaths took place, had gained prominence after it emerged that in the midst of the tragedy, he went out of his way to save as many children as possible.
As first reported by DNA, Dr Khan was hailed as hero after parents of several children and others said that had it not been for his efforts, including procuring oxygen cylinders from private hospitals, the number of deaths in the hospital would have been much more.
However, in a twist, the doctor was removed from his post and also named one of the nine accused in the case.
Sources today told DNA that after state government's sanction, the Gorakhpur Police have filed charge sheet against former BRD Medical College Principal Dr Rajiv Mishra, including corruption and criminal conspiracy and Dr Kafeel Khan.
Originally, as per the FIR filed on the orders of Director General, Medical Education, KK Gupta, Dr Khan had also been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Information Technology Act and the Indian Medical Council Act.
The Investigative officer in the case, Abhishek Singh, said the police had not been able to find any material and substantive evidence during the course of investigation against Dr Khan to prove that he was involved in corruption, indulged in private practices or had violated any provisions of the IT Act.
"Since no evidences were found against Dr Khan on these counts, we have dropped these charges against him," Singh said.
The police have submitted statements from 93 witnesses against Dr Mishra but could not find any evidence to prove corruption and private practice charges against Dr Khan.
Meanwhile, FIRs are also likely to be filed against another former Principal of the BRD Medical College Dr KP Kushwaha and four others in connection with executing contract with oxygen supplier Pushpa Sales. During the course of investigation, it was found that Pushpa Sales was not manufacturing oxygen, but despite that, it was engaged to supply oxygen on higher price resulting in losses to state exchequer and violation of tendering process.
"Instead of executing contract with Innox, the company which was producing oxygen, Pushpa Sales was given the oxygen supply contract. This raises doubts on role of five members of the committee which executed the contract," the investigative officer told the court.
The police are now probing the role played by tender committee members Dr Kushwaha, CMO Dr AR Singh, Medical Superintendent AK Srivastava, Chief Finance Officer Vinod and Financial Controller Neeraj Kumar.
Dr Kushwaha, however, rubbished the police claims. "Tenders were floated three times but no company submitted quotation.
Pushpa Sales was given the contract when no other company came forward to supply oxygen. The tender process has already been audited twice by experts and no irregularity was found," he said.
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