A doctor of Delhi’s GB Pant Hospital continued to take a salary for three years, while all this time she was absent and working as a “filmmaker” in Canada. The matter came to light after the Union Health Ministry issued a notice to the former head of the biochemistry department, Dr Manju Subberwal.
The ministry has asked her to explain about her unauthorised absence from duty for around three years while drawing salary from the government. According to a report in Indian Express, the doctor’s social media profile describes her as a “filmmaker” based in Canada.
The notice was issued to Dr Subberwal on July 28, the IE reported, adding that the ministry asked why action should not be initiated for non-compliance with rules and regulations related to government officials availing leave. The notice further asked her why her unauthorised absence should not be treated as a break in service, and why allowance and pay given to her during this period not be recovered.
A complaint and probe
It all began with a complaint that was filed by an employee of GIPMER in May, IE reported citing sources. GIPMER is the medical college associated with the hospital. In the complaint, the employee alleged that Subberwal went to Canada to pursue a filmmaking course in 2022 and was drawing a full salary.
The complaint read that she “hatched a criminal conspiracy with another doctor from her department, who was signing all official papers on her behalf as head of the biochemistry department in her absence, without the approval of the competent authority”.
The complainant claimed this fraud has cost the exchequer a loss totalling about Rs 50 lakh, the report added. As soon the hospital received the complaint, the matter was raised with the Union Health Ministry.
“The issue came to light in May when salaries were being disbursed to faculty heads. Officials found a major lapse in her attendance, which had been going on for nearly three years. She would show up at the hospital for just a few days each year. Once, her husband also came to give back-dated leaves. After the matter came to light, she was removed as head of the department, and her salary was put on hold,” a senior doctor at the hospital told the Indian Express.
The hospital has reportedly prepared a chargesheet in the case, which will be submitted to the Ministry.
Subberwal a ‘filmmaker’ in Canada, made 3 films
The Instagram bio of Subberwal states she is a telly awards winner, filmmaker, writer, editor and medical doctor. On her LinkedIn, she mentioned that she pursued a certification course in animation from July 2019 to December 2020 from an online school.
She then pursued a Bachelor of Creative Arts degree from the Toronto Film School, and specialised in cinematography and film/ video production from April 2022 to April 2025.
Subberwal’s IMDB page shows she has made three films: Colors (2024), Totka (2021), Yours Faithfully (2019). In all these films, she listed herself as writer, director and producer.