Lagatar24 Desk
RANCHI: Jharkhand MLA Saryu Rai has intensified his stance against Health Minister Banna Gupta, calling for a judicial inquiry into a viral FIR circulating on social media. Addressing a press conference from his residence on Tuesday, Rai claimed that while Gupta has dismissed the FIR as fake, the Ranchi police are investigating its source. Additionally, Rai alleged that a close associate of Gupta filed a counter-FIR in Jamshedpur, naming three individuals, whom the health minister has falsely associated with Rai himself.
Judicial Inquiry Demanded
Rai has demanded a judicial investigation into the matter. He pointed out that the Superintendent of Police (City) had confirmed that an investigation into the viral FIR’s origins was underway. Meanwhile, Gupta’s ally had filed the counter-FIR at Kadma police station in Jamshedpur, seemingly attempting to link Rai to the controversy.
2023 Viral Video Incident
Rai also recalled a prior incident in April 2023, when an explicit video involving Gupta surfaced, allegedly showing him engaging in an inappropriate conversation with a woman. Despite Gupta himself filing an FIR at the time, no significant progress has been made in the case, according to Rai. He further accused Gupta of seeking sympathy by portraying himself as a victim of political persecution, while neglecting issues like the eviction of poor street vendors in Jamshedpur and the closure of several hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Corruption Allegations
Rai went on to accuse Banna Gupta of rampant corruption and mismanagement, particularly at MGM Hospital in Jamshedpur. According to Rai, Gupta controls the hospital’s administration through a close associate who has been stationed in the superintendent’s office. He also pointed to several irregularities, including the purchase of overpriced medicines, embezzlement of COVID-19 funds, and mismanagement in the procurement of 108 ambulances.
Statewide Healthcare Mismanagement
Rai did not limit his criticism to Jamshedpur alone, asserting that all hospitals across Jharkhand are suffering from mismanagement. He mentioned that patients are not receiving proper care and that medical college hostels are in deplorable condition. He likened Gupta’s behavior to Nero, accusing him of turning a blind eye to the worsening healthcare situation across the state.
In response to Gupta’s recent remarks about Rai’s water quality testing efforts in the Swarnarekha River, Rai dismissed the minister’s criticisms as politically motivated. He further accused Gupta of treating politics as a business, using illicit earnings to establish farmhouses in and around Jamshedpur.
The feud between Rai and Gupta continues to escalate, with Rai calling for transparency and accountability in the state’s healthcare system.
