India, June 18 -- Maharashtra public health minister Prakash Abitkar on Wednesday ordered the recovery of nearly Rs.5.9 crore from 14 officials of the Regional Mental Hospital (RMH), Yerawada, after a departmental inquiry found them responsible for financial irregularities and alleged misappropriation of government funds.

The action follows a report submitted by a three-member high-level inquiry committee constituted by the state government on February 17, 2026. The first panel, formed on January 5, 2025, conducted a preliminary probe which flagged serious lapses in financial management and alleged embezzlement at the hospital. To date, three panels have been constituted to investigate the alleged embezzlement of funds.

The third commit...