INDORE/BARWANI – In a major anti-corruption operation that has sent shockwaves through the state health department, the Indore unit of the Lokayukta police apprehended three government doctors red-handed for allegedly accepting bribes as “commission” for patient referrals. The Special Police Establishment (SPE) of the Lokayukta office in Indore conducted a series of coordinated traps on Thursday, May 7, 2026, targeting medical officers posted at the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Rajpur town, Barwani district.
The Referral Commission Racket
The investigation into the unethical practice began following a formal complaint lodged by Adnan Ali, the manager of Seva Pathology Lab, a private diagnostic facility in Rajpur. According to the complaint, the three doctors had established a systematic “kickback” arrangement where they would direct patients visiting the government-run hospital to the private laboratory for various diagnostic tests instead of utilizing available hospital resources.
Initially, the doctors reportedly demanded a 20% commission on every test fee paid by the referred patients. However, the complainant alleged that in the previous month, the trio abruptly hiked their demand to a staggering 50% of the total billing amount. The lab manager claimed that the increased financial pressure made it impossible to operate his facility legally, prompting him to seek intervention from the anti-corruption agency.
Details of the Trap Operation
Upon verifying the allegations, a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sunil Talan from the Indore Lokayukta laid a meticulous trap. On Thursday, the officials caught the three medical officers at their respective residences while they were allegedly accepting the illicit payments for referrals conducted during the month of April.
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
- Dr. Amit Shakya, Medical Officer, caught accepting ₹8,000.
- Dr. Divya Sai, Medical Officer, caught accepting ₹5,000.
- Dr. Manohar Godara, Contractual Medical Officer, caught accepting ₹12,000.
Initial reports suggest that the original demands were significantly higher—Shakya had allegedly asked for ₹18,000, Sai ₹8,000, and Godara ₹21,800—but they eventually settled for lower amounts during negotiations with the lab manager, which were monitored by the Lokayukta team.
Legal Action and Broader Implications
The Lokayukta police have registered cases against the trio under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, along with relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023. Following the arrests, officials recovered the bribe money from the spot and initiated further proceedings.
The incident has triggered widespread outrage and highlighted the persistence of commission-based referral practices that exploit vulnerable patients in public healthcare systems. Lokayukta officials have indicated that further investigations are underway to determine if other staff members or private facilities are part of this wider network. The State Health Department is also expected to initiate internal disciplinary action against the doctors in addition to the criminal proceedings.
