Ranchi: A day after Rims director Dr Rajkumar resigned from his post, Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy on Friday termed it as “unfortunate” and accused the health department of harassing a competent doctor through various means, including an alleged CID probe, forcing him to finally tender his resignation.Sharing a copy of the letter dated June 8 by Rajkumar to minister Irfan Ansari, Roy appealed to chief minister Hemant Soren to order a probe.In his June 8 letter, Dr Rajkumar alleged irregularities and undue pressure within the health department.Dr Rajkumar resigned as director of Rims a day after the CID conducted raids on the institute’s premises in connection with alleged irregularities in the 2025 MBBS admission and tendering processes. He was also subjected to long interrogation by the CID.Late on Thursday, the govt replaced him with Dr D K Sinha by appointing him as officiating director.Calling the episode unfortunate, Roy said, “When the department failed to browbeat a competent doctor belonging to the Scheduled Caste, it began harassing him right from the very first meeting of the governing body. On every occasion, the high court stayed the govt’s orders. Ultimately, the govt sent the CID, a move that deeply hurt the director and prompted his resignation.”Before resigning, he wrote a detailed letter highlighting 22 points. In it, he alleged that the additional chief secretary of the health department acted against him with mala fide intent and kept the governing council in the dark. The letter mentioned attempts to exert pressure on both the Rims governing body and the director. Despite judicial orders, there were efforts to proceed against him. He was allegedly harassed through false cases,” Roy alleged, adding that the communication exposed “irregular functioning” within Rims and the health department.Roy pointed out that Dr Rajkumar has been honoured on multiple occasions and is a qualified neurologist who successfully carried out several critical surgeries at Rims.“It is unfortunate that capable directors at Rims are forced to leave midway. If such conditions persist, no competent professional will be able to improve the institute’s work culture,” Roy said, blaming “excessive govt interference” for the prevailing disorder at the state-run hospital.Opposition BJP, too, levelled allegations against health minister Irfan Ansari, claiming that Dr Rajkumar was “forced” to resign six months before the completion of his tenure due to sustained pressure and interference. Party state spokesperson Ramakant Mahato alleged that he was continuously harassed because he did not align with the alleged irregular practices in the department.However, Congress, which is part of the ruling coalition govt, dismissed all the allegations. The party’s state media in charge, Rakesh Sinha, said that BJP often engages in mudslinging and petty politics. “The minister is constantly working to improve healthcare services in the state,” he said.
