Jharkhand minister's secretary removed on corruption charges

The personal secretary of Jharkhand Health Minister Ramchandra Chandravansi, who allegedly sought bribe of Rs.1 lakh from a doctor to revoke his suspension, was removed on Sunday on the directive of Chief Minister Raghubar Das.

According to media reports, Satyendra Narayan Singh, the personal secretary of the minister, sought the bribe from a suspended doctor. The text of an audio tape of the alleged bribe demand has also been published in newspapers.

"The chief minister has directed the health minister to remove his personal secretary. The chief minister has also directed the filing of an FIR against the doctor who offered the bribe to the personal secretary," a state government press statement said on Sunday.

The health minister confirmed that his secretary had been removed.

The opposition parties demanded the minister's dismissal.

"The personal secretary of a minister cannot demand money without the consent of the minister. If the Raghubar Das government is committed to fighting corruption, then the health minister should be sacked and an impartial probe should be ordered," Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) legislator Pradeep Yadav told IANS.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) termed the directive "one-sided".

"The chief minister has asked officials to lodge an FIR against the doctor but is silent on the personal secretary. Why is there no probe and FIR against the personal secretary and the minister," asked JMM leader Vinod Pandey.