Govt doctor in Shujalpur accused of bribery:Demanded ₹12,000 for delivery, accepted ₹8,000 at private clinic despite caesarean performed, alleges complainant

A shocking case of alleged corruption in the healthcare system has surfaced from Shujalpur, district Shajapur, where a government doctor has been accused of demanding and accepting bribe money from the family of a pregnant woman. Despite the delivery being performed at the Shujalpur Government Hospital, the gynecologist allegedly forced the family to pay Rs 12,000, part of which was handed over at her private clinic. The complainant claims that he not only had to borrow money to fulfill the demand but also recorded video and audio evidence of the transaction. Money for delivery in a government hospital The case centers around Dr. Abha Jain, a gynecologist posted at the government hospital in Shujalpur. According to the complainant, Ramesh Patidar, his daughter Manisha was under Dr. Jain’s care during her pregnancy. Patidar alleges that from the very beginning, Dr. Jain hinted that delivery would require extra charges and suggested that the procedure could be carried out at her private clinic instead of the government facility. When Manisha’s cesarean delivery took place on September 18 at the Shujalpur Government Hospital, the family was relieved. However, their ordeal had just begun. Patidar claims that Dr. Jain demanded Rs 12,000 for conducting the delivery. Unable to arrange the full amount at once, he managed to pay Rs 8,000 but was allegedly told that the remaining Rs 4,000 must be cleared soon. Threats over stitches The father alleges that after the surgery, when his daughter was recovering, Dr. Jain refused to remove her stitches until the remaining bribe amount was paid. Patidar said he was left humiliated and helpless, worrying not only about his daughter’s health but also about the safety of the newborn.
“I had already given Rs 8,000, but when I couldn’t arrange the balance, the doctor threatened not to cut my daughter’s stitches. What kind of system is this, where even in government hospitals you are forced to pay bribes?” Patidar told local reporters. Suspicious call from a private hospital Adding another layer to the controversy, Patidar revealed that weeks before the delivery, his daughter received a call from a private hospital. The caller reportedly told her that they could perform her delivery for Rs 40,000– Rs 50,000. Shocked, the family declined, citing financial difficulties.
Patidar now questions how a private hospital obtained his daughter’s personal phone number and medical details. He believes there is a nexus between government doctors and private clinics, where patients are pressured or lured into spending huge sums for procedures that should be free or low-cost at government hospitals. Video evidence of bribe transaction On September 23, Patidar claims he went to Dr. Jain’s private clinic to make the payment. Since he did not have sufficient funds, he borrowed the money. At the clinic, he first handed Rs 5,000 to the doctor’s assistant and then another Rs 3,000 after a gap of 20 minutes.
Crucially, the entire episode was recorded on video. In the footage, the complainant is seen handing over the money, while the assistant can be heard saying that the remaining amount would be settled during the removal of stitches. The video evidence has since circulated locally and raised questions about corruption in government-run hospitals. Doctor denies allegations When confronted with the allegations, Dr. Abha Jain strongly denied any wrongdoing. She described the charges as baseless and politically motivated. “The accusations are false. I have never demanded any money. These claims are fabricated to tarnish my reputation,” she reportedly said.
However, the visual evidence of the money being exchanged at her private clinic has cast doubt on her defense. Critics argue that if she had no role in the transaction, why was her assistant involved, and why did the payment take place at her clinic at all? No official complaint yet Interestingly, despite the severity of the allegations, no formal police case has been registered so far. Authorities have only confirmed that the matter has come to light through local media reports and that no written complaint has been filed by the victim’s family yet.
Legal experts point out that unless a formal complaint is lodged with either the police or the health department, disciplinary or criminal action may not follow. Activists, however, stress that the presence of video and audio evidence should be enough to initiate a suo moto inquiry. Bribery in public healthcare This case highlights a persistent problem in India’s public healthcare system — corruption and informal payments. Patients, especially from rural or lower-income backgrounds, often report being asked to pay bribes for services that are officially free.
Healthcare activists argue that such practices not only burden families financially but also erode trust in government hospitals, pushing people toward expensive private healthcare.
“When a government doctor demands money for deliveries, which are supposed to be free, it discourages poor families from seeking institutional care. This is a serious public health issue,” said a social worker in Shajapur. ​