Officer in soup for issuing fake gazette notification

Bhubaneswar: The Assistant director of the Department of Factories (Medical) has landed in trouble for allegedly issuing a fate gazette notification and receiving kick-backs worth more than Rs 1 crore for the same.

According to allegations, on September 23, 2015, the Odisha government had issued a notification making it mandatory for industrial units to conduct regular health check-ups of their employees. However, the said notification didn’t mention any empanelled pathology laboratories where the health check-ups should be conducted.

But on October 16, the Assistant director of Factories (Medical) Motilal Gouda issued another notification empanelling five pathology labs where the industrial units should conduct the health check-ups of their employees. Out of these five labs, two each are in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack while another one is in Talcher. A nationalized enterprise entered into a Rs 63 crore agreement with one of the empanelled pathology labs.

However, Gouda has refuted the allegations saying that the signature on the notification is not his.

“The signature is yet to be verified and the signature is not mine. Someone has forged my signature and issued the notification,” said Gouda.

On the other hand the pathology labs and nursing homes empanelled in the notification have also washed their hands of the matter saying they have no involvement in the matter.

“When the matter came into light, we were asked whether we have any involvement in the case. We produced evidence that we had nothing to do in the matter. We have not done any health check-ups for any companies at a corporate level either,” said PK Das, the GM of Sadguru Hospital, one of the empanelled check-up centers.

Meanwhile, producing some pictures of Gouda with a minister and a few legislators, the BJP has said that the official is being protected by the ruling-BJD.

“This is proof of how criminals are thriving under the patronage of the ruling-BJD. As the supremo of the party and the Chief Minister of the State, Naveen Patnaik should take stern action against the accused,” said BJP leader Sajjan Sharma.

Responding to BJP’s allegations, BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb said; “By linking the names of ministers and legislators, the BJP is only sensationalizing the issue. If they have any evidence of any corrupt practices and irregularities, then they should bring it to the notice of the concerned minister and the department in writing. A probe will be ordered and if anyone is found guilty then action will be taken. No one is above law.”