Probe against former chief of SGPGI

LUCKNOW: The police superintendent, UP vigilance cell, initiating an inquiry and asking the secretary to the government to provide information related to accounts and other details of anomalies in an institute may not be unusual.
What is unusual, however, is that the matter relates to one of the premier medical institutes of the country — the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS).
Even more unusual are the names mentioned in the letter marked ‘most important’. They are of the former director SGPGIMS, now vice-chancellor CSM medical university, Dr Mahendra Bhandari and, of the finance officer of the institute, Vishambhar Nath.
The letter, dated May 06, 2003, says "as per instructions from the government of UP, an open inquiry has been initiated against Dr Mahendra Bhandari and Vishambhar Nath, finance officer SGPGIMS."
Moreover, it also says: "It is requested that you direct the official/employee concerned to provide the required information so that the process could be completed."
The information required was related to the tenure of Dr Bhandari and of Nath. Also, the details of appointments in different positions with the date of appointment were required. Moreover, attested photocopies of their personal correspondence was sought.
The secretary was also asked to provide the attested photocopies of details of other inquiries initiated against Dr Bhandari and Nath, if any, during their tenure along with the complaint letter, besides other related information.
When asked whether he had provided all the information required, the secretary medical education, Jagjit Singh, said that since the matter was confidential it could not be disclosed.
Talking to TNN, Dr Bhandari, however, was candid enough to admit that the inquiry had been initiated. "The inquiry was on an anonymous call," he said.
Nath, however, said that he was not aware of any such inquiry against either Dr Bhandari or against himself.
He said that he had not received any information and also denied, when asked, whether he was not being transferred because of the inquiry and the fact that everything would then be out in the open.