Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) today arrested Dr Kafeel Khan from Gorakhpur in connection with the BRD Medical College tragedy that led to the deaths of scores of children.

Khan made headlines few days after the tragedy surfaced for his quick responsiveness.

However, later reports suggested that Khan was involved in stealing of oxygen cylinders from the hospital for his private clinic.

After the allegations surfaced, Dr Khan who was the nodal officer of BRD Medical College's Department of Pediatrics was removed from all hospital duties.

Allegations are that Dr Kafeel Khan, in cahoots with former principal of BRD Medical College, Dr Rajiv Mishra and his wife Purnima Shukla, are responsible for the death of 68 patients.

NON-BAILABLE WARRANTS

Earlier on Friday, a court in Gorakhpur issued non-bailable warrants against seven people including Dr Khan.

The development came a day after the former principal of the college Dr Rajiv Mishra and his medico-wife Purnima Shukla were sent to judicial custody for 14 days.

Additional sessions judge Shivanand Singh issued the NBW against seven of the nine people named in the FIR, investigating officer C Abhishek Singh said.

Apart from Dr Khan, warrants were issued against anstheist Dr Satish, pharmasist Gajanan Jaiswal, accountant Sudhir Pandey, assistant clerk Sanjay Kumar Tripathi and gas suppliers Uday Pratap Singh and Manish Bhandari.

Khan, who was the nodal officer, has already been removed from the post.

Following the deaths, mostly of infants, cases were registered under various sections of the IPC, Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Medical Council Act against nine people, including the doctor couple.

COLLEGE PRINCIPAL, WIFE IN JUDICIAL CUSTODY

Mishra and his wife, who were arrested from Kanpur on Tuesday by Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), were produced before the judge who sent them to the Gorakhpur district jail on a 14-day judicial remand.

They were named in an FIR lodged by the UP government. Mishra was suspended as principal of the medical college on August 12 after the deaths were reported. He resigned the same day taking moral responsibility.

There were allegations that the deaths happened due to disruption in oxygen supply as the vendor had not been paid for months.

While the Uttar Pradesh government vehemently denied that shortage of oxygen led to the deaths, a high-powered probe committee headed by Chief Secretary Rajiv Kumar indicted Mishra and others of laxity and other charges.

Mishra was accused of sitting over on the issue of payments to the vendor supplying oxygen gas to the hospital.

BOOKED AFTER EXTENSIVE REPORT

The doctor couple were booked on the basis of the report submitted to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath by the chief secretary.

Adityanath had formed the committee on August 12, a day after the deaths of children were reported at the hospital. The two doctors were picked up from Kanpur, where they had reportedly gone to consult a lawyer.

The medical college attracted global attention when more than 60 children, mostly infants, died at the hospital within the span of a week last month.

The issue also acquired a political colour with the opposition attacking the government over it.

The Allahabad High Court yesterday sought a "detailed report" on the infrastructure and medical facilities at Gorakhpurs BRD Medical College.

It directed the secretary of the Uttar Pradesh State Legal Services Authority to personally visit the medical college hospital and file a report along with photographs of various wards.

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