Gujarat additional health secretary held over ₹30 lakh bribery demand, sent to 3-day remand
Updated: Apr 18th, 2025
In a sensational case involving a demand of ₹30 lakh bribe for providing a favourable report in a departmental inquiry against the then deputy director of Bhavnagar Health and medical services and his colleague doctor, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has finally arrested the absconding Additional Secretary of the Health Department, Dinesh Babubhai Parmar.
He was presented before the Special ACB Court on Thursday, which granted a three-day remand. This is the first time a top official of an additional secretary rank has been caught in a bribery case, causing a significant stir within the state government.
Earlier in this high-profile case, retired dean of the civil hospital’s dental department, Girish Jethalal Parmar—who had strong political connections—was caught red-handed while accepting ₹15 lakh as a bribe. He was remanded for three days by the ACB and was later sent to jail.
Meanwhile, the prime accused, Parmar, had been absconding for several days. During the hearing, government lawyers Sudhir B Brahmbhatt and Assistant Government Lawyer C R Khatri argued for a seven-day remand, stating that both Dinesh and Girish had demanded ₹30 lakh in bribe from the complainant— Dr Manish Fancy, the then deputy director of health and medical services in Bhavnagar—and his associate doctor in return for a favourable report and assistance in the departmental probe.
It was also revealed that Girish was caught red-handed accepting the first instalment of the bribe on behalf of Dinesh, showing clear collusion between the two.
Key reasons listed for Dinesh’s remand
–To investigate whether any portion of the bribe was meant for other senior officials or government employees.
–To examine the extent of Dinesh’s assets and properties.
–To scrutinise all his bank accounts and financial transactions.
–To subject him to scientific tests at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar.
–To record his video statement at the Gandhinagar Forensic Sciences University.
–To verify the transcript and facts of conversations between the complainant and the accused.
–To find out how many other individuals he may have taken bribes from and in what amounts.
–To retrieve relevant files and documents related to the case from his possession.
What was the bribery case?
The complainant, Dr Fancy, had taken disciplinary action against certain health department staff for allegedly engaging in bogus medical practices. As a result, a complaint demanding a departmental inquiry against Dr Fancy himself was filed with the health commissioner. He and his colleague, Dr Sunil Patel, were then suspended and subjected to a departmental investigation.
In this context, retired Dean Girish Jethalal Parmar contacted Dr Fancy and arranged a meeting with Dinesh Parmar, during which they demanded a massive bribe of ₹30 lakh to influence the outcome of the investigation in his favour. Nine days ago, the ACB had laid a trap in which Girish was caught red-handed at his residence accepting ₹15 lakh from the complainant.
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