Paresh Rawal apologises to Dr Kafeel Khan over 2017 remark

Mumbai: Actor and former BJP MP Paresh Rawal apologised to paediatrician Kafeel Khan who was recently absolved of charges of medical negligence and corruption in connection with Gorakhpur’s 2017 BRD hospital tragedy.

About 30 children had died at the hospital during the night of August 10, 2017 and 34 more over the next few days, officials had then said.

Many of the infants died allegedly because of disruption in oxygen supply on the night of August 10 due to pending payments to the supplier, a charge refuted by the state government.

Khan was accused of negligence, suspended and arrested following the outrage over the deaths. His suspension is yet to be revoked.

Principal Secretary (Stamp and Registration) Himanshu Kumar, who investigated Khan’s case, absolved the doctor of any negligence.

On Tuesday, Khan demanded an apology from the Bollywood actor, quoting his August 2017 remarks wherein Rawal had called him a “hero in the eyes of ever active termite clan”.

“I demand an apology from you. @SirPareshRawal sir. We are your fan, never thought you had closed-minded and obstinate attitude. Please read enquiry report which absolved me from negligence and corruption. Your bosses won’t but I accept least this from you,” he tweeted.

On Wednesday, Rawal posted his apology on Twitter, saying, “There is no shame in apologising when one is wrong… I apologise to @drkafeelkhan”

Khan accepted Rawal’s apology and said, “Thank you @SirPareshRawal sir. I really appreciate that. It was something that hit me hard. We should also be sorry to those 70 parents who lost their kids in #BRDoxygenTragedy”

As per the investigation report, Dr Khan was neither the nodal medical officer in charge of encephalitis wards at BRD nor documents contesting the same provided by the department were adequate and consistent.

The report also states that Khan was not involved in the process of allotting tenders for oxygen supply amounting to corruption, or of medical negligence on his part on the day of the tragedy.

The report also says that Khan informed seniors about shortage of oxygen supply and arranged seven oxygen cylinders on the night of August 10-11, 2017.