Mumbai, March 15: A significant scandal has erupted in the health department of Uttar Pradesh’s Basti district, following allegations of bribery at the Vikramjot Community Health Center (CHC). The accused, Pradeep Srivastava, a senior clerk at the CHC, reportedly demanded a 10% commission from a female health worker in exchange for processing her pending arrears. The situation escalated when a video of Srivastava accepting the bribe went viral on social media.
In response to the public outcry, police swiftly arrested the clerk on Sunday. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Rajeev Nigam has taken a firm stance, recommending the suspension of the accused to the government. Following instructions from Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Srivastava was suspended immediately.
The victim, Sunita Verma, had been waiting for her arrears for an extended period, despite a court order mandating payment. Allegedly, Srivastava insisted on a 10% commission to expedite the payment process. Verma stated that he collected a total of ₹45,000 in two installments—₹25,000 first and ₹20,000 later—while continuously demanding the remaining amount. He claimed that without the full commission, exceeding ₹100,000, her arrears would not be released.
The case intensified when the video of Srivastava accepting the bribe surfaced online, prompting immediate action from health department officials. CMO Dr. Nigam quickly recommended suspension and directed police to investigate the matter. Authorities have taken the victim’s statement and registered a case based on her complaint. The police have confirmed that they will proceed with further investigations based on the findings.
Haraiya Circle Officer Swarnima Singh reported that a case has been filed based on Sunita Verma’s complaint, leading to the arrest of Pradeep Srivastava. The police are currently conducting a thorough investigation into the incident.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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