Yerwada Mental Hospital Corruption Exposed
Shocking Revelations in Inquiry Report
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
A shocking financial scandal has come to light at Yerwada Regional Mental Hospital, where a high-level inquiry by the Maharashtra Health Department has revealed corruption amounting to ₹1.25 crore.
The hospital’s Medical Superintendent, Dr. Sunil Patil, along with several other officials, has been held responsible for severe financial irregularities.
The inquiry committee, led by Assistant Director Dr. Prashant Wadikar, submitted a detailed report to the Deputy Director of Health Services, Dr. Radhakrishna Pawar. According to the findings, Dr. Patil misappropriated funds since 2017, engaging in unauthorized payments and contract violations. The committee has recommended recovering the embezzled amount from Dr. Patil and other administrative officers, including the office superintendent and clerks involved in the fraud.
• Bogus Contracts and Misuse of Public Funds
One of the major irregularities uncovered was related to the hospital’s cleaning services. A private company was awarded a contract for sanitation, but payments were made without verifying whether the cleaning services were actually provided. The inquiry report states that despite the absence of work, Dr. Patil approved payments to the contractor, raising serious concerns about financial mismanagement. When questioned, the private firm failed to provide any justification, further strengthening the allegations of corruption.
Additionally, the hospital entered into a dubious agreement for a solar water heating system. The contract was manipulated to inflate maintenance costs, yet in reality, the hospital continued using electric heaters, causing long-term financial losses. Worse, the solar heating system was never installed, forcing mentally ill patients to bathe in cold water during winter and monsoon seasons—an outright violation of their human rights. The committee estimates that ₹73 lakh was misappropriated in this fraudulent deal.
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• Disturbing Findings: Malpractices in Essential Supplies
The Sprouts News team has reviewed the inquiry report, which exposes multiple instances of corruption affecting the well-being of mentally ill patients. Key findings include:
• Deaths of 18 patients sent to private rehabilitation centers under suspicious circumstances.
• Supply of adulterated milk with added water to patients, posing serious health risks.
• Embezzlement in the procurement of undergarments for patients, raising concerns about their hygiene and dignity.
• Misuse of ₹19 lakh in hospital equipment purchases, with records indicating overbilling and ghost transactions.
• Call for Accountability
Following the Sprouts News investigation, the revelations in this report have sparked outrage among human rights activists and patient welfare organizations. Experts argue that the mismanagement at Yerwada Regional Mental Hospital reflects a larger pattern of corruption in government healthcare institutions. If the guilty officials are not held accountable, it could set a dangerous precedent for future healthcare scandals.
The Maharashtra government is now under pressure to take strict action against the accused and ensure that funds meant for the treatment and care of vulnerable patients are not misused. As Sprouts News continues to follow this case, the question remains—will justice be served, or will this shocking scam be buried under bureaucratic delays?
