Request UP govt to reinstate me with due honour: Dr Kafeel Khan

Dr Kafeel Khan has asked Uttar Pradesh government to immediately withdraw his suspension and reinstate him in his job with due honour. He was suspended from Gorakhpur's BRD Medical College two years ago after more than 60 children admitted at the hospital had lost their lives due to oxygen shortage in 2017.

New Delhi: After being cleared of charges of medical negligence, corruption and not performing his duty in 2017 Gorakhpur children death case, suspended paediatrician Dr Kafeel Khan has appealed the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government to reinstate him in his job with due honour.

Khan was suspended from Gorakhpur's BRD Medical College two years ago after more than 60 children admitted at the hospital had lost their lives due to oxygen shortage in 2017. The departmental inquiry report was handed over to Dr. Kafeel by the medical college administration on Thursday.

"The allegations against the accused are insufficient...Therefore, it is submitted that the accused officer is not guilty," the report stated.

Khan said, "It is state government's prerogative to accept or not accept this inquiry report. I request the Uttar Pradesh government to reinstate me in my job with due honour. Secondly, a CBI or court-monitored inquiry should be conducted into the case outside Uttar Pradesh so that the real culprits of BRD Medical College oxygen tragedy can be found."

"Thirdly, the state government should also apologise to the families of the deceased children as well as provide them with compensation," he added.

Khan, who was then posted with pediatrics department, was suspended from service on August 22, 2017, following the deaths of about 60 infants in the hospital due to lack of oxygen, after oxygen suppliers cut off supply due to non-payment of dues by the hospital.

He was later booked and arrested on charges of negligent in his duties resulting in a shortage of medical oxygen, culpable homicide, criminal breach of trust and not performing his duty in 2017. The doctor spent nine months in jail. He later secured bail from a court but continues to be suspended from the medical college.

An FIR was registered against Khan under charges of attempt to commit culpable homicide, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy. The additional charges of corruption and private practice have already been dropped during the investigation for lack of evidence.

Khan had claimed that he was made a scapegoat in BRD Medical College oxygen tragedy and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation.