Cuttack: Head of the Clinical Haematology Department of SCB Medical College and Hospital, Dr Rabindra Kumar Jena, arrested on charges of embezzling Odisha State Treatment Fund (OSTF) and amassing disproportionate assets today has been sent to jail.
A special vigilance court here has sent the tainted doctor to judicial custody till January 3 and asked the Vigilance department to submit the case diary.
The court has also fixed December 27 for hearing the bail plea filed by Jena earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, the anti-graft unit has appealed the court seeking five-day remand for Jena and the hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.
Earlier in the day, Vigilance sleuths nabbed the senior haematologist from near Laxmannathpur in Balasore district while he was returning from West Bengal.
The development came after allegations against Jena indulging in unethical medical practices came to fore. Jena has been alleged of showing undue favours to pharmaceutical companies to get good returns. He has also been accused of recommending patients with high cost drugs of private pharmaceutical companies by mentioning those as generic.
Following the accusations, the vigilance had conducted raids at several places including Jena's residences in Cuttack and other places in Kendrapara to trace out evidences of embezzlement.
During the course of investigation, Vigilance sleuths also arrested another assistant professor and Jena's colleague Dr Sudha Sethy on December 13 for misusing official position and showing undue official favour to different pharmaceutical companies.