Shiv Sena demands CBI probe into death of UP minister Chetan Chauhan

Uttar Presh unit of Shiv Sena on Monday demanded a CBI probe into death of state minister Chetan Chauhan, who succumbed to COVID-19, questioning circumstances under which he was shifted from a government hospital in Lucknow to a private facility in Gurgaon.

A delegation of Shiv Sena met Governor Anandiben Patel and handed over a memorandum to her in this regard, party said in a statement. Chauhan, 73, succumbed to COVID-19 on August 16. Initially, he was mitted to Sanjay Gandhi Postgruate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) in Lucknow. After his health deteriorated due to kidney-related ailments, he was shifted to Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon where he was on life support for nearly 36 hours.

"Under what circumstances was late minister Chetan Chauhan shifted from SGPGI in Lucknow to Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon? Did government have no faith in SGPGI, a prestigious institution?" Shiv Sena asked in its statement.

" minister was hurt by attitude of doctors and staff of SGPGI. Till now, no action has been taken against guilty doctors and staff of SGPGI. In entire episode, government continued to sleep, and two ministers succumbed to COVID-19," it said.

On August 2, state technical education minister Kamla Rani Varun, 62, h died days after testing positive for COVID-19.

" government must conduct a CBI probe," Shiv Sena said.

Earlier, Samajwi Party MLC Sunil Singh Sajan h alleged that Chauhan died not because of COVID-19 but due to carelessness in his treatment at SGPGI. Raising issue in Upper House of Uttar Presh Legislature on Friday, he alleged that Chauhan received poor treatment at state-run hospital. He h also claimed that he and Chauhan were mitted in same ward of hospital.

"Once during a round, a doctor and a nurse asked who is Chetan, to which minister raised his hand since he was a simple person. He was asked as to when he got infected with virus, to which he explained entire matter to hospital staff.

"At that time, anor personnel asked Chauhan what do you do, to which he said he is a minister in Yogi ityanath government," Sajan h said.

He h said he was angered by behaviour of hospital staff with Chauhan.