The man arrested for taking a bribe, “billionaire” compounder Mahesh Chand Sharma, has been found to be a recipient of the National Florence Nightingale Award. The Anti-Corruption Bureau seized documents of properties worth `200 crore owned by Sharma. The ACB had arrested him on Sunday while taking a `5-lakh bribe.
According to sources, Mr Sharma was simply a second grade compounder at Jaipur’s SMS Hospital but he emerged a billionaire in the last few years. The nursing staff serving with Mr Sharma were surprised when he was awarded the National Florence Nightingale Award on May 12, 2008, at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on International Nursing Day. The sources said Mr Sharma was described as a person known for his dedication to sufferers. The award was given by then President Pratibha Patil.
The nursing employees who worked with him said he never served in the hospital ward in the last 27 years but he managed every thing. He was working as an assistant registrar with Rajasthan Health Science University in 2008 when the award was conferred on him. He started his career as store in-charge at TB Clinic at SMS Hospital almost 27 years ago. ACB sources said Mr Sharma said he was working as a link for Indian Nursing Council chief T. Dileep Kumar.
He managed a posting at the council and served as observer.
But three months ago he became an adviser to the council and started working from Delhi. The position occupied by Mr Sharma was previously with Dileep Kumar.
ACB sources said Nursing Council president Dileep Kumar will be questioned in view of Mr Sharma’s statement. ACB sleuths found Sharma has partnerships in more than two dozen nursing colleges across Rajasthan. He recently acquired a hospital in Jaipur’s Man Sarovar locality worth `22 crore. The ACB searched his bungalow, spread over 800 sq. yards, in a posh Jaipur locality.