Mangaluru: Alice D’Souza (92) was admitted to Global Hospital by her neighbours after her ‘adopted son’ (Arun) abandoned her and she fell ill. When Arun refused to pay the medical bills, Alice filed a complaint to senior citizen helpline from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital, following which the Helpline took up the case.

In turn, Helpline co-ordinator Lidwyn filed a complaint before the Assistant Commissioner, who in turn visited the hospital, recorded statements of Alice and ordered Arun Kumar to pay the bills. Though he agreed before the AC to pay the bills, he approached the hospital and bought time.

When Hospital MD Dr Susheel Jathanna called Arun on Friday morning, he refused point blank to pay the bills, which has crossed over Rs 2.75 lakh as on Friday.

“As the AC has ordered to give her best treatment, we have been doing our best,” Dr Jathanna said and added that the condition of Alice D’Souza is very critical and she is on ventilator support.

Meanwhile, when contacted, AC Dr Ashok said that he would cancel the sale deed on Saturday.

Quite interestingly, when the Helpline made enquiries about the apartment, it was learnt that the house tax for the apartment has not been paid since 2007.