Vigilance recovers Rs 16.5 lakh, $ 50k from Thrissur doctor’s properties; may inform ED

Thrissur: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) may handover details of the bribery case involving a doctor at Thrissur Medical College Hospital to the Enforcement Directorate. 

During a search at the house of Dr. Sherry Isaac, who was arrested for accepting a bribe from a patient for surgery, in Thrissur, the VACB team seized Rs 15 lakh in cash. The money was found hidden in the bedroom cupboard, under the bed, and inside the bed. Most of it was Rs 500 notes.

The VACB team also searched Dr Isaac's house in Pallimukku, Kochi, where they seized another Rs 1.5 lakh in cash and half a lakh US dollars.

VACB on Tuesday arrested Dr Isaac from a private clinic in Wadakkanchery, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 3,000 from a patient.

The doctor is an associate professor in the Department of Orthopedics at Thrissur Medical College Hospital. He was arrested from his private clinic in Ottupara. According to the state law, doctors in medical colleges are not allowed to practice privately.

The VACB had received a complaint from a woman from Palakkad that Dr Isaac had demanded a bribe of Rs 3,000 to perform surgery on her arm, which was broken in a car accident. The woman refused to pay the bribe, and Dr Isaac delayed her surgery.

The VACB team then handed over phenolphthalein-coated notes to the woman, and she went to Dr Isaac's clinic and gave him the money. Dr. Isaac was caught red-handed accepting the bribe. 

The VACB has registered a case against Dr Isaac under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He has been remanded into judicial custody. They are also investigating Dr Isaac's property acquisitions.