Retired head nurse alleges extensive corruption by Ex-DPH G Srinivas Rao, seeks judicial inquiry

A retired head nurse SK Prasanna has come forward with serious allegations of corruption against former Director of Public Health (DPH) G Srinivas Rao and several other officials within the Telangana Health Department. Prasanna, who has had a long career in the medical and health sector, is calling for a judicial inquiry into her allegations, accusing high-ranking officials of shielding the accused.

Allegations of Corruption and Mismanagement

Prasanna has accused G Srinivas Rao and his associates of widespread corruption, including irregularities in the disbursement of funds, improper postings, transfers, and promotions in violation of service rules. Her complaint extends to several officials, including former Deputy Director (Admin) Karra Srinivas Reddy, Deputy Directors (Admin) Swetha Monga and Somesh Sekhar, and Assistant Director (Admin) Shankar.

Previous Inquiry Rejected

Following a state-ordered inquiry, Prasanna submitted her testimony and material evidence in April. However, she claims that the investigation led by Dr. Pushpa, the additional director, was biased due to pressure from G Srinivas Rao and his influential deputies. On Monday, Prasanna resubmitted her detailed allegations, supported by evidence, to Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha during the Prajavani grievance redressal programme, urging for a judicial inquiry into the matter.

Claims of Bribery and Irregular Postings

Prasanna has accused Srinivas Rao of securing his position as civil surgeon and acting DPH by bypassing 61 more senior civil surgeons, many of whom were from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Backward Classes (BC). She alleges that Rao paid ₹2 crore for his promotion. Additionally, she accused him of misappropriating COVID-19 funds and providing unauthorized vaccinations to staff at multinational companies in Cyberabad in exchange for large sums of money.

Prasanna highlighted a specific instance where ₹10 lakh was allocated to the district medical and health officer (DMHO) of Bhadradri-Kothagudem for a political event termed “Athmeeya Sammelanam.” According to her, only half of the amount was accounted for, a discrepancy corroborated by a recent auditor general’s report.

Charges of Systemic Corruption

Prasanna alleges that Rao, with the help of his deputies, managed to avoid any charges despite multiple allegations of corruption and a vigilant enforcement report. She asserts that Rao ignored evidence of corruption against Deputy Directors Swetha Monga and Somesh Sekhar and unlawfully issued approximately 3,000 deputation orders for various healthcare roles in exchange for bribes.

Bribery for Key Positions

Prasanna further claimed that Rao sold key DMHO posts to unqualified candidates for large sums, a practice that extended to various administrative roles within the health department. She alleges that Swetha Monga played a significant role in adding unauthorized vacancies to medical colleges and facilitated bribe collection through intermediaries.

Misuse of Influence and Trust

In a serious accusation, Prasanna pointed out that Srinivas Rao manipulated postings and zones for contract workers while regularizing them in exchange for bribes. She also highlighted the existence of the Dr. GSR Trust, allegedly established by Rao to advance his political ambitions and collect money from beneficiaries of his corrupt practices.

Tragic Consequences and Mismanagement

Prasanna mentioned a tragic case involving the suicide of a nurse who was allegedly harassed by an office superintendent, Salauddin. Despite a police case, Prasanna claims that Swetha Monga granted the accused paid leave without suspension, further reflecting the extent of the systemic corruption.

Call for Judicial Inquiry

Given the gravity of these allegations, Prasanna is advocating for a judicial inquiry to ensure an unbiased investigation into the corruption within the health department. She has accused the higher authorities of protecting the accused and preventing justice from being served.

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