The woes of demonetisation hit Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda after the death of his brother Bhaskar Gowda on Tuesday.
Sadananda Gowda witnessed the challenges firsthand, after a private hospital in Karnataka refused to accept old notes while he was trying to retrieve his brother's body.
Gowda’s younger brother, Bhaskar Gowda suffered from jaundice for 10 days and died after he did not respond to the treatment on Tuesday at a private hospital in Mangaluru.
When the BJP minister arrived with his family to release his brother’s body from the hospital, the hospital asked for Rs 40,000 as payment. When Gowda’s family handed over Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes while settling the hospital bill, it refused to take demonetised notes.
Gowda also reminded the hospitals authorities that they are supposed to accept old notes even after demonetisation, but they refused to budge.
When asked if he could pay by cheque, the hospital disagreed, media reports stated.
Later, Gowda reportedly got a written document signed by hospital authorities, stating that they would not accept demonetised notes. The hospital then agreed to accept the payment by cheque and release Bhaska Gowda’s body.
Gowda has reported said that he will seek appropriate action against the hospital.
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