SC stays arrest of Ahmedabad doc in graft case

The Supreme Court has stayed the arrest of a Ahmedabad hospital's medical superintendent, who was accused of indulging in corruption and seeking pecuniary benefits for some works in L G municipal hospital.

He was suspended after his acts were recorded by the contractor.

A vacation bench of Justices S Abdul Nazeer and Indu Malhotra granted interim relief to Dr Rajesh Chandulal Shah in an FIR registered by the Anti-Corruption Branch of the Ahmedabad Police.

The court issued a notice to the Gujarat government on a special leave petition filed by Shah, challenging the high court's order of June 12, rejecting his plea for anticipatory bail.

The court sought a response from the state government within four weeks.

"There shall be stay of arrest of the petitioner in connection with FIR No 06/2018 registered at ACB Police Station, Ahmedabad until further orders," the bench ordered.

The court, however, directed Shah to cooperate in the investigation.

Shah, superintendent of L G Hospital was suspended in March after allegations of corruption were made by a contractor.

The contractor for putting up signboards at the hospital claimed that he had handed a bill of Rs 1. 17 lakh.

About six months ago, when he contacted Shah to get his dues cleared, Shah reportedly demanded Rs 20,000 from him to pass the bill.

He recorded the incident and sent the video to the civic chief along with an application against Shah.

Ahmedabad Municipal Commission chief Mukesh Kumar ordered an inquiry and the video was found to be genuine by forensic science laboratory in Gandhinagar.