Karnataka minister Khader’s brother involved in drug scam: NGO

Bengaluru: Bharat Yuvajana Sena (BYS) a social organisation levelled serious allegations against health and family welfare minister, U. T. Khader’s brother Dr Iftikar alleging his involvement in a purchase scam of medicines in various state-run hospitals.

Speaking to reporters at the Bengaluru Press Club here, BYS state president Ramanand Sagar alleged that state-run hospitals are under the complete control of Dr Iftikar who is the brother of the health and family welfare minister.

“The nexus has now grown beyond bureaucrats and sellers and has extended to the health minister’s house too. Most of these shady deals are struck by Dr Iftikar, who is a physiotherapist by profession,” he alleged.

He claimed that Dr Ifitkar had found an easy way to bypass laws to purchase medicines at higher price.

“Using Arogya Rakshana Samiti corpus fund, Dr Iftikar is violating norms for purchasing drugs. There is a lacuna in the scheme which allows medicines to be purchased without informing the government or calling tenders. This lacuna has been misused to fill their family coffers instead of utilising funds for healing the poor,” he alleged adding that Dr Ifitkar was interfering in the day-to-day affairs of the health and family welfare department.

Reacting sharply to the allegations, health and family welfare minister, U. T. Khader asserted that mere allegations will not suffice.

“Let them (BYS) come out with concrete evidence against anyone including my brother, I will guarantee them that there will be an impartial inquiry into the complaints they are raising,” the minister declared.