Health Department launches probe after court flags irregularities
The Gujarat Health Department has formed an inquiry committee following observations by the Jamnagar Sessions Court concerning an alleged ₹1.36 crore withdrawal from the Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS) account of the government-run Jamnagar Dental College, according to a report by English Gujarat Samachar.
Prosecution documents placed before the court reportedly state that funds were withdrawn through 15 cheques bearing the signatures of the college dean. The court noted that a clerk is alleged to have transferred the money first into his own account and subsequently moved it elsewhere. The court’s remarks questioned the role of the dental college dean and made serious observations about the conduct of three police sub‑inspectors involved in the probe.
- Amount alleged: ₹1.36 crore
- Modus operandi stated in court: 15 cheques, dean’s signature, money routed via a clerk’s account
- Officials under scrutiny: Dean of Dental College; PSIs S.G. Keshwala, R.K. Khalifa and R.B. Thakor
The Sessions Court directed that its observations concerning the dean be forwarded to the Secretary of the Health Department, while its comments about PSIs S.G. Keshwala, R.K. Khalifa and R.B. Thakor were ordered to be sent to the Joint Secretary in the Home Department, the report said. Copies of the orders were transmitted to the respective departments through the DGP’s office and the district government pleader.
“There was no direct evidence at present to link the dean to the alleged fraud and the probe is ongoing,”
the prosecution and police told the court, as reported. They also placed before the court a video said to be a confession by the accused clerk and details of the arrest of another accused from Surat. Despite these submissions, authorities maintained that the investigation had not produced conclusive proof implicating the dean.
Expected departmental responses and local implications
The Health Department’s inquiry committee is expected to seek an explanation from the dental college dean, while the Home Department may call for responses from the three police officers about their roles in the initial investigation, the report added. The next actions in the criminal proceeding are likely to be shaped by the findings of the Health Department’s internal probe.
This development has implications for governance and public confidence in Jamnagar’s healthcare institutions. The Rogi Kalyan Samiti mechanism is intended to supplement patient care and local administration of government medical facilities; allegations of large withdrawals raise questions about internal controls, signatory protocols and financial oversight at the college level. The scrutiny of investigating officers by the Sessions Court further underscores concerns about procedural rigor in the early stages of the case.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Alleged amount | ₹1.36 crore |
| Number of cheques | 15 |
| Officials highlighted by court | Dental College dean; PSIs S.G. Keshwala, R.K. Khalifa, R.B. Thakor |
The case highlights the intersection of administrative accountability and criminal investigation in Jamnagar’s public health sector. Departments now face the task of quick, documented responses to judicial observations while ensuring the ongoing criminal probe proceeds without prejudice. The court’s directions to forward its observations to the Health and Home departments aim to prompt departmental oversight and possible administrative action depending on the inquiry outcomes, the report said.
Further updates will depend on the Health Department committee’s findings and any subsequent orders by the Sessions Court as the criminal investigation evolves.
