Union Minister Sadananda Gowda’s family runs into cash hurdle in Karnataka hospital

The family of Union Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation D V Sadananda Gowda on Tuesday felt the pinch of demonetisation when a hospital in his home district of Dakshina Kannada in Karnataka refused to just accept payment of Rs forty eight,000 in recent currency.

Officials at the Kasturba Medical College Hospital in Mangaluru said this happened Tuesday following the death of the minister’s younger brother, D V Baskar Gowda, 54, when a transient illness.

“My Brother Mr Baskar was admitted in hospital at Mangaluru he kicked the bucket after temporary illness,” Sadananda Gowda tweeted Tuesday morning.

The minister’s family had, however, faced currency-connected difficulties in getting KMC Hospital to clear the medical bills for the treatment and unharness the body for final rites. Hospital sources said this happened after the family offered Rs forty eight,000 in recent Rs 500 and Rs one,00zero notes as part of a final payment of Rs thirteen lakh. Authorities at KMC refused to simply accept the payment in old currency citing government orders.

The minister, who was at the hospital, reportedly sought a written statement from the hospital to declare that they wouldn't accept the payment in previous currency notes. The bill was settled finally after the minister issued a cheque and also the hospital stated in writing that it cannot accept payments created with recent currency as per government directives.

The KMC Hospital’s unit head, Sagir Siddiqui, confirmed this had happened at the hospital prior to the discharge of the body of the minister’s brother. “Our staff told them that we tend to cannot accept the demonetised notes. Sadananda Gowda sought a written communication in the matter. We tend to have given a written statement saying that we are strictly following the steering issued by the union government and also the RBI.

They later cleared the bill by issuing a cheque,” Siddiqui said when contacted over the phone.

A media secretary for the minister, on the other hand, denied this had happened. “Our minister had instructed the hospital not to get rid of ventilation support for Bhaskar who was admitted within the hospital due to a liver connected illness. He paid around Rs forty eight,000 at the counter through a cheque to shut the bill. The family of the minister didn't try to pay the bill with demonetised notes,” media secretary Manjunath Kenyadi said.

Baskar Gowda was a farmer from Sullia in Dakshina Kannada. He was admitted to KMC Hospital around 2 weeks ago.