Team Herald
PANJIM: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Monday initiated an inquiry into the alleged misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 6.5 lakh from the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) treasury in 2016.
Unhappy with the inquiry conducted in 2016, Rane ordered a fresh probe into the matter and asked to ‘co-relate’ the salary and pension of GMC Dean Dr Pradeep Naik.
“I have ordered a detailed inquiry to be conducted in the crime in which Rs 6.5 lakh was siphoned from the treasury of GMC. There was a shoddy inquiry conducted earlier that failed to reach any conclusion or get hold of the culprit,” Rane said.
“Till the inquiry is conducted and money is recovered, I have ordered to ‘co-relate’ the salary and pension of Dean,” the Minister added.
The Minister claimed that during a routine visit to GMC the misappropriation of the funds from the treasury was brought to his notice but Dean or then Administrator of the institution took no action. “This detailed inquiry will fix the responsibility and we will also recover the money,” Rane said.
The Minister has warned of stringent action against those involved in the matter, stating that the case is an eye-opener and he would dig more into the GMC monetary transactions.
Earlier this month, GMC had suspended services of four staffers and terminated one contractual worker, after he was found involved in gross irregularities, including accepting a bribe.
