Suspended Health Director sent to 5-day police custody

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 26

Suspended Director Health Services, Dr Ajay Gupta, who was arrested by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SVACB) on May 21 after an audio recording in which he was allegedly asking for Rs 5 lakh went viral, was remanded to five days of police custody by Special Judge.

After his arrest he had complained that he was a diabetic and was admitted to Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital here. Discharged yesterday, he was sent to judicial custody. The Vigilance Bureau sought police remand for interrogating him and the court sent him to five-day police custody.

Dr Gupta has filed the bail application which would come up for hearing on May 28. The SVACB has already seized the mobile phones of Dr Gupta and another person, known to be close to BJP leader and sent these to forensic lab for retrieving the deleted data.

The case has become very sensitive and likely to unearth irregularities in purchases in the health department.