Lucknow:
The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a high-level inquiry into the alleged abduction of the Chief Medical Officer of Gonda, S P Singh, by Minister of State for Revenue and Rehabilitation.
"A two-member committee led by Additional Director Health has been set up to look into the matter and submit its report by Friday," Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ahmad Hassan said.
Sources in the government said Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and SP President Mulayam Singh Yadav have taken strong note of the report.
According to media reports, the CMO was allegedly abducted by the Minister Vinod Singh alias Pandit Singh as he was "unhappy" over the refusal to accommodate his nominees on the list of doctors on contract recruited by the district health department under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).
Pandit Singh, however, has strongly refuted the charge, calling it a political conspiracy to tarnish his image.
Principal Secretary (Medical and Health) JP Sharma said, "Though the CMO has not filed any written complaint in this regard, we are in touch with the local officials and employees to get details of the incident".
No FIR has also been filed in this connection.
The state Home department has said efforts were on to contact the Chief Medical Officer for his statement on the matter.
"We have not been able to contact him till now and as per reports received from Gonda, he is on leave since Tuesday," Secretary (Home), Kamal Saxena said.
Once he gives his statement further action would be initiated, he said.
Mr Saxena, however, refuted reports that the district magistrate has also proceeded on leave.