Dharmagarh: The Supreme Court Friday granted interim bail to A Johnsel Raja, the head of Sardar Rajas Medical College and Hospital in Kalahandi in lieu of two bail bonds of Rs 5 lakh each.
Raja was arrested by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the state Crime Branch from Tamil Nadu over various irregularities relating to the medical college August 3. He was produced in the court of the JMFC in Junagarh which rejected his bail peal and remanded him to the Dharmagarh sub-jail. Raja moved the apex court for bail after the additional district sessions judge also rejected his bail petition.
The state government had provided 25 acres of land and sanctioned Rs 10 crore from the Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) fund for the construction of the medical college after Raja signed MoU with the former January 30, 2004. The government released the sanctioned fund in 10 phases.
Later, the WODC, alleging failure in honouring the MoU and various irregularities, lodged a complaint against Raja in Junagarh police station September 3, 2015. The medical college authorities even evaded appearing before the WODC and replying to their queries. Raja was arrested after the government handed over the matter for probe to the EOW March 31, 2018.
PNN