Bhubaneswar: As if the embarrassment over an 'absconding' government doctor safely ensconced as an assistant director in the Directorate of Factories (Medical) right under the state government's nose was not enough, the Health and Labour departments now have to explain how the resourceful Dr. Motilal Gouda was also employed with a private clinic in Nayagarh for two full years during which he was supposed to be working with the Directorate under the Labour department in Bhubaneswar.
The list of private clinics in Nayagarh district available in public domain shows that Gouda, accused of pocketing Rs 63 lakh through a fake gazette notification during his stint at the Factories Directorate, was working as doctor-in-charge in Krishna Clinic in the town from January 2014 to January 2016.
Curiously, Gouda had joined the Department of Factories as Assistant Director in June 2012 and continued till he was sacked in June 2016 as per government records. While the Health department had declared Gouda as an ‘absconder’ in December last year, he had joined the department on March 11, 2010.
Incredible though it may sound, Gouda, going by the service records, managed to do the impossible by holding three positions - two government and one private - at the same time.
The Opposition was predictably quick to pounce on this startling revelation to take potshots at the Naveen Patnaik government.
“How is it possible without political patronage?” asked senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra.
“Without verifying past service records, how the appointment letter was issued by the Labour department?” the saffron party leader continued.
“Without political patronage, a person will not dare to do all these illegal activities,” he said.
The Health department, which had earlier clarified that Gouda had not obtained any no objection certificate (NOC) from it, today said the Labour department should have verified his job records.
“The department which is appointing, should do all the verification,” Health secretary Arati Ahuja said.
The ruling BJD, accused of harbouring Gouda, however, maintained that the investigation will make everything clear.
“The BJD will not protect any culprit. Let the probe be completed. Everything will be clear,” BJD spokesperson Amar Satapathy said.