Rs 50 crore 'transfer scam' in Maha Health dept: Vikhe Patil

Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil today alleged that there was "rampant" corruption in the state health department and government doctors have paid bribe to the tune of Rs 50 crore to get transfers to places of their choice.
"The corruption is so rampant in the health department of the state government that it appears as if the Minister (State Health Minister Deepak Sawant) and his staff have prepared a menu card (for the transfers)," Vikhe-Patil told reporters here today.
"The charges are-- Rs 2-2.5 lakh for transfer of a medical officer, Rs 10 lakh for transfer of a district health officer, Rs 15 lakh for transfer of a district surgeon, etc. The rates increase if a specific district or city is being demanded," he said.

"For effecting transfers in the department, at least Rs 50 crore have been accepted as bribe so far. All these transactions have happened through Sawant's personal secretary Sunil Mali," the Congress leader said and demanded that the government should arrest Mali at the earliest.
The ACB should arrest Mali immediately and check his phone and computer records for traces of corruption, he said.
Health Minister Sawant was not available for comment.

A woman doctor from Jalgaon district had recently written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis alleging that she was "harassed" by Mali.
Mali has been sent on compulsory leave after complaint by the woman medical officer. "But, sending him on compulsory leave is not enough and he should be arrested immediately," Vikhe-Patil said.

The Health Minister should take up the responsibility in the case and resign, he added.