CM’s son to quit firm in wake of lab controversy

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Apr 14, 2016 (DHNS): Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son, Dr Yathindra, on Wednesday decided to quit the company that had set up a diagnostic laboratory in Victoria Hospital premises here, to avoid any inconvenience to his father.

The lab is attached to PMSSY Hospital housed in the Victoria Hospital complex.

His decision to quit as director of Matrix Imaging Solutions India, which bagged the contract to set up the diagnostic centre, has set off a controversy. In an interview to a local news channel, Dr Yathindra, a pathologist, said since the issue had become controversial, he had decided to move out of the company though he had not done anything wrong.

Yathindra said neither he nor his father were aware of the guidelines preventing the kin of ministers from participating in business concerns and services of the government.

Matrix founder and director Dr C M Rajesh Gowda, however, denied reports that Yathindra had stepped down as director. “He has not quit. Dr Yathindra said that he will seek legal opinion on the issue,”’ Dr Gowda told Deccan Herald.

Siddaramaiah, however, defended his son saying there was no wrongdoing as the entire process complied with tender procedure. Yathindra is his second son. Rakesh, the elder son, is into politics.

Minister of State for Medical Education Sharanprakash Patil too, insisted that Matrix was selected through due tendering.