MP: Ratlam chief medical officer caught while taking bribe

Lokayukta police today caught red-handed Ratlam district's Chief Health and Medical Officer (CHMO) Dr Pushpendra Sharma while allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 3 lakh from a 'dresser' posted in Bedhda Health Centre for settling a case against him.

Acting on a tip-off, the Lokayukta sleuths caught Dr Sharma when he was accepting Rs 3 lakh bribe at his house, deputy superintendent of police S S Udavat told PTI.

The CHMO had demanded a bribe of Rs five lakh from the dresser Rustam Singh Narwaria for settling a case against him on the issue of recovery of district hospital medicines at his place on September 13 following which Dr Sharma had threatened to suspend him and ordered a departmental probe against him.
 

Dr Sharma allegedly demanded a bribe through Narvaria's daughter, Dr Ritu Verma. He had already taken Rs 2 lakh on September 14 and was supposed to get the remaining amount today.

Narwaria tipped-off Lokayukta police about it following which a trap was laid and Dr Sharma was caught red-handed taking Rs 3 lakh from Narwaria and his daughter at former's residence in Kasturba Nagar area, the DSP said.

He was released on bail. A case under Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against him.