Kakinada:50 lakh alleged scam detected in DMHO

Kakinada: A scam involving alleged misappropriation of Rs 50 lakh was unearthed in the District Medical and Health office here.

District Medical and Health Department Additional Director Dr Savitri has been appointed as the inquiry officer to investigate the alleged scam.

Addressing the media, Dr Savitri said the inquiry would bring out facts. The Administrative Officers would be held responsible for the misdeed. She, however, said she had no details of the scam as of now.

District Medical and Health Officer Dr B Satya Susila said it appeared that Rs 50 lakh was received by the office. Two or three Administration Officers (AOs) were transferred since then. At present, there is only Rs 2 lakh in the bank account, she said.

Administrative Officer Sumati, who was suspended on charges of selling nursing posts in a hospital had withdrawn Rs 34 lakh from the account. Another AO Rajulu also had withdrawn Rs 14 lakh from the same account in later, Dr Satya Susila said.

However, the present AO Mallikarjuna Rao said Rs 40.3 lakh was deposited in the account and Rs 6 lakh was spent under various heads. He said at present there is Rs 2 lakh in the account and AO Sumati should explain the details of Rs 32 lakh withdrawn from the account.

The Office Superintendent K Venkateswara Rao said there was only Rs one lakh in the account now and it was not known how the funds were spent. He said that show-cause notices were served on former AO Sumati and another officer Gollakoti Murthi to explain the details of funds withdrawn from the account.