Karwar: Dr Shivanand Kudtarkar, the superintendent and gynaecologist of the Uttara Kannada district government hospital, which functions under the Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences (KRIMS), has been suspended from his post following bribery allegations.

The suspension order was issued by B Shivakumar, commissioner of the Department of Health and Medical Education, after Lokayukta officials arrested Dr Kudtarkar red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe.
 

On July 10, Lokayukta police apprehended Dr Kudtarkar inside his hospital office as he was receiving ₹30,000 from a contractor supplying beds to the hospital. He was subsequently produced before the court and has since been remanded to judicial custody.

In response to the incident and based on the preliminary report, the Health Department took disciplinary action and formally suspended Dr Kudtarkar from his position as superintendent of the district hospital.