Jaipur: Already under scrutiny over the devastating fire that killed eight people at the neurosurgery ICU of SMS Medical College on Oct 5, the state’s premier medical institution faced fresh embarrassment Thursday when the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested the head of the neurosurgery department, who is also additional principal of SMS Medical College, for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 1 lakh.ACB ADG Smita Shrivastava said Dr Manish Agrawal was caught red-handed by the bureau’s special investigation unit (SIU) while taking the bribe money. The agency stated in a statement that a complaint was received that Dr Agrawal was demanding a bribe from a supplier of brain coils used in neurosurgical procedures in exchange for approving bills related to the supplies.Following the complaint, DIG (ACB) Anil Kayal verified the allegations and laid a trap, arresting Dr Agrawal while he was receiving the cash. He was taken into custody and will be produced before court on Friday.Sources told TOI that the complainant represented a firm supplying brain coils, which is a tiny, soft metal wire used to fix a bulge in a brain artery, also known as an aneurysm, to prevent bleeding in the brain. “The company submitted bills worth Rs 12 lakh for supplies made over the past two years. The file reached Dr Agrawal’s desk, but he repeatedly delayed signing it,” said an official.According to investigators, the complainant initially sent another representative to discuss the pending bills, but Agrawal allegedly became angry and threw the documents aside, refusing to approve them until a bribe was paid. “The complainant explained that all supplies were made according to contract terms and govt procedures, but Agrawal insisted that payment would be cleared only after the money was handed over,” the official added.Realising that the official would not relent, the complainant approached the ACB. The bureau organised a trap and apprehended Dr Agrawal. Officials said further questioning is underway to determine if similar demands were made from other vendors.
