BENGALURU, 6 FEB

An inquiry committee has recommended appointing Dr Syed Altaf as the Interim Director of Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru.

According to the statement released by Mohammed Mohsin, Principal Secretary of Medical Education and Vice President of Kidwai Memorial Foundation, the committee suggested relieving the current director Dr V Lokesh from his duties and stated that he can continue as a professor in the Department of Radiation and Oncology until the next meeting.

Dr Altaf, a cancer surgeon, has been appointed to the position following allegations of irregularities such as high consultation fees, misuse of grants, and collusion with private organisations that allowed them to charge higher than the approved rates. The committee has also confirmed violations of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act on medicine procurement and tender proceedings for services such as PET scans and bone marrow transplants.

The report claimed that the hospital had mismanaged the maintenance of records. The three-member committee, appointed by the State government, consisted of Dr Arundhathi C h a n d r a s e k h a r , Commissioner of Treasuries; Guruswamy, Additional Registrar of Cooperative Societies; and Mahadev, Additional Registrar at the Karnataka State Audit and Accounts Department and BBMP Additional Commissioner (Finance).