No evidence that Bindal okayed DHS’s service extension: Probe

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 28

Former Speaker of state Assembly and ex- BJP state chief Rajiv Bindal had not recommended extension in services of former Director, Health Services, Dr Ajay Gupta, who was arrested on the night of May 20 last after a 43-second audio of conversation of Dr Gupta with a dealer demanding bribe went viral in social media.

After the arrest of Dr Gupta canards were being spread that Bindal had recommended extension in services of Dr Gupta but the state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SVACB), probing the scam, did not get any evidence in support of the allegations.

The SVACB reportedly sought information from the state government regarding any recommendatory letter sent by Bindal, seeking extension in services of Dr Ajay Gupta but the reply was in “negative”, sources on SVACB said. Further, there was nothing on record to establish that Dr Gupta, who was due to retire on June 30, was making any efforts to get extension. Bindal had resigned as state BJP chief on May 26 on moral grounds after the name of his close associate figured in the scam.

However, the voice samples of both the accused – former Director Health Services (DHS) Dr Ajay Gupta and agent Prithvi Singh had matched with the voice in the 43-second audio recording in which Gupta was heard asking for bribe of Rs 5 lakh for supply orders of 6500 PPE kits worth over Rs 1 crore. Gupta was arrested on May 20 night and released on bail on May 30 while Prithvi Singh was arrested on June 6.