ILNS: A serious case of a possible bed scam, quite like the one exposed in Bengaluru, surfaced through a patient’s plea in the Delhi High Court on Friday.
A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli was hearing petitions related to the situation arising out of the Covid-19 second wave in the Capital.
Advocate Atul Nagarajan submitted: “Urgent plea regarding a patient, who is having lung problem now, and he is near to tuberculosis and seeks any bed facility in Delhi.”
At that Justice Sanghi said: “Mr Mehra (Rahul Mehra, Senior Counsel, representing the State of Delhi) please look into this. Yesterday, we did something, but today, nothing is available.”
That was when Atul said: “I was informed by the petitioner that they are saying there are no beds available, when beds are actually available. They are charging for the bed.”
Justice Sanghi: “You give us one instance like this and see what kind of action we take. We will take action.”
Atul: “Perhaps the petitioner doesn’t want to go on affidavit.”
Justice Sanghi: “Any evidence, WhatsApp, message, video anything that shows that something like this is happening. We will take action. Mr Mehra please see if you can do anything.”
Advocate Satyakam: “I am already on it.”
In Bengaluru, as many as seven people, including two doctors, were arrested for their alleged links to the Covid-19 bed allocation scam on Wednesday. In this scam, people who were accessing the government website on the status of hospital beds, initially found that the beds were full in hospitals. What was exposed was that the beds were booked under fake names and when the price was right, these beds were suddenly vacant again.
The Central Crime Branch of Karnataka police has nabbed four people. According to the Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandeep Patil, two FIRs filed in the city have been transferred to the CCB.
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Justice Sanghi said: “There are difficulties on the Judicial side. We can’t take these matters every day.”
Praveen k Sharma: “My Lord, the problem is of a proper wait-list and updating of bed availability status and other details. One thing is sure is that people are managing to secure a bed if they can pay more. I have seen people from Delhi going to Bulandshar, Pilkua and other places to get admitted.”