- COVID Turned into Goddess Lakshmi for a Former Telangana Medical Head
- A Pandemic of Deaths in Hospitals, a Shower of Currency at Home
Article Today, Hyderabad:
While hospitals across Telangana were overflowing with COVID-19 patients and people were losing their lives, a former top medical officer was enjoying a rain of currency notes at his home. COVID, which devastated thousands of families, turned into a fortune for this officer. He purchased two separate flats just to hide the money he amassed during the pandemic. Reports suggest that over three years, these flats were completely filled with cash.
The Smart Collections During COVID
This former health officer, whom we are calling Dr. Sriharirao (name changed), worked in a highly influential position during the COVID period. He had full control over government and private hospitals across the state. Even the ruling government trusted him with responsibilities beyond his official rank. He handled crucial matters like vaccine distribution and medical supplies. While the public struggled to find hospital beds, this officer was busy collecting crores.
Corporate Hospitals at His Feet
Private hospitals, diagnostic centres, and vaccination hubs all operated under his tight control. Big corporate hospitals would approach him personally. Even when these hospitals overcharged patients during the crisis, he merely issued weak notices and let them go. It is alleged that crores of rupees flowed from these hospitals directly to the officer.
Silent Settlements and Hidden Deals
One prominent hospital with a three-letter name received a severe notice for a grave mistake, but no action was ever taken. It is widely believed that the hospital management paid him crores to settle the issue quietly. This officer reportedly collected bribes from many hospitals by threatening to cancel their licenses.
Trusted Aides for Smooth Operations
The officer operated smartly with the help of two loyal assistants who relayed his instructions to lower-level staff across the state. It is said that hundreds of hospitals were forced to pay him large sums under various pretexts.
The Remdesivir and Vaccine Scandals
During the pandemic, there was a severe shortage of life-saving drugs like Remdesivir. In some cases, black-market prices for these medicines reached ₹1.5 lakh per vial. The officer allegedly supplied these medicines to hospitals and collected hefty commissions.
The vaccination process itself became a massive scam. Thousands of doses were sold directly to corporate companies and business groups. A famous diagnostic centre in the Telugu states reportedly charged excessively for RT-PCR tests but escaped punishment after paying huge bribes to the officer.
Government Funds Misused
Government funds meant for pandemic management were allegedly spent as per his whims and commissions were pocketed. Due to the emergency, proper audits were not conducted, allowing him to siphon off crores unnoticed.
A Lavish Lifestyle Built on Pandemic Profits
While the world was struggling with the horrors of COVID, this officer was enjoying a luxurious lifestyle funded by the currency he collected. His extraordinary assets and lifestyle speak volumes about his activities.
From Officer to Celebrity
COVID brought a turning point in his life. His style, language, and attitude changed completely. He became something of a celebrity in the health department, using his pandemic-time connections to his full advantage. His political reach also grew rapidly.
VIP Travel and Overseas Trips
Even after his retirement, he has continued to enjoy life to the fullest. Overseas trips became common for him. Wherever he flew, he received VIP treatment and always travelled in business class. For him, travelling from Hyderabad to London was as easy as a short domestic trip. Many IAS and IPS officers cannot afford the luxuries he now enjoys. Even some ministers do not live such a grand lifestyle.
The Question That Remains
His flats are said to be filled with hundreds of crores in cash. What happened to all that money? Where did it go? We will explore these questions in our next report.
