Hyderabad: Students united against HoD

Hyderabad: The unity displayed by 300 students studying medicine at Osmania General Hospital led to the arrest of Dr Bhukya Balaji, who was accused of blackmailing students.

Dr Balaji was arrested by the Anti Corruption Bureau. Searches carried out by the ACB unearthed Rs 2.51 crore assets, whose market value has been put at Rs 6 crore. Dr Balaji would demand bribes from the students for passing them in the exams. He asked for a bribe of Rs 50,000 from each and assured them he would pass them in the MBBS and Post Graduation examinations. Those who refused as they could not afford to pay the amount, were pressurised by the doctor to pay up else he would fail them. He even forwarded his bank account number through WhatsApp.

Students who were victims of Bhukya Balaji’s blackmail, formed an association. They submitted a complaint to the principal of Osmania General Hospital, and later filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau. The ACB registered the case in the last week of March and started an investigation.

During this time, Dr Balaji, who was head of the department of General Medicine at OGC, was transferred to the Fever Hospital to facilitate the enquiry. The ACB investigation yielded crucial evidence whereupon the search was conducted and the doctor booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.