Bargarh: The district administration put Government hearse driver Hrusikesh Bhoi under suspension on charges of demanding money to transport the body of a deceased.
Bargarh Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Nirupama Sarangi suspended Bhoi, who is known for playing the role of King Kans in Dhanu Yatra in Odisha’s Bargarh, for demanding Rs.3,000 from the deceased’s family from the Gaisilat area.
According to sources, Bhoi was working as hearse driver under the state government’s ‘Mahaprayan’ scheme in the district. His responsibility was to carry the dead bodies from the government hospital to the house of the deceased’s family. The service is rendered free of cost under the scheme.
Some time back, Bhoi had to take a body from the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in Bargarh to Bahala village in Gaisilat block. But he demanded Rs 3,000 from the family to take the body in the hearse. Though the family gave the money, they filed a complaint in this regard against Bhoi in the DHH.
Acting on the complaint, Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) of Bargarh Nirupama Sarangi issued a show-cause notice to Bhoi and also ordered a departmental inquiry into the allegation.
While Bhoi could not give any satisfactory explanation, the committee found him guilty and submitted its report. On the basis of the committee’s report, the CDMO on Tuesday suspended Bhoi.
It may be noted that Bhoi has been playing the central character of King Kansa in the Dhanu Yatra, which is considered as the world’s biggest open-air theatre, for the last several years. He has been selected for the role in 2025. The Yatra will start on January 3 and continue for 11 days.
Despite repeated efforts to get the reaction, Bhoi could not be contacted.