I am ready to face probe, says Medical Education Minister

Responding to the allegations of irregularity in appointing directors to State-run medical colleges, Minister of State for Medical Education Sharan Prakash Patil today said that he was ready to face inquiry by any investigating agency. He was speaking to presspersons at Rampur Impounding Reservoir in Raichur taluk after laying foundation the stone for a water treatment plant.

“All the appointments are transparent and as per the rules, regulations and guidelines in force. There is no question of favouring anybody by making appointments out of the way. If anybody has approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau questioning any appointments I made, let the investigating agency book a case and initiate the inquiry. I am ready for it,” he said.

Borewell, drug scams

Asked about the action taken in the multi-crore borewell scam in Raichur Zilla Panchayat, Mr. Patil said nothing specific and simply repeated the same assurance that he had been giving the for the last one year. “I will look into the issue and let you know the progress in the case,” he said.

The Hindu had unearthed the scam in April last year. Later the internal investigation conducted by the Zilla Panchayat found that a huge amount of public funds was misappropriated by clearing the bills for sinking borewells in villages without executing the works in reality. No action has been taken yet.

To a question on the progress in the drug scam (a large dump of government-supplied medicines, most of which had already expired, was discovered by health officials in warehouses), the Minister that he would look into the matter and let the public know about the progress.

Earlier, he laid the foundation stone for a water treatment plant meant for supplying drinking water to Raichur city.

Raichur Lok Sabha member B.V. Naik, MLC N.S. Boseraju, MLA Shivaraj Patil, Tungabhadra Command Area Development Authority chairman A. Vasanth Kumar, Deputy Commissioner S. Sasikanth Senthil, Superintendent of Police Chetan Singh Rathor, Municipality Commissioner K. Gurulingappa, CMC president Hemalatha Budeppa, vice-president Jayanna and others were present.