Dr Sreeni R Gangasani’s suspension from AAPI by the executive committee for alleged irregularities sparks a major controversy
Our Bureau
New York, NY
A crisis is brewing in AAPI, one of the oldest and most prestigious organization of Indian-American community in the US. A controversy around the issues of organizational elections in the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin threatens to engulf the group which represents a conglomeration of more than 80,000 practicing physicians in the US and also acts as an important bridge between India and the US.
Though factional bickering is not unknown in the group founded in 1982, the latest crisis has taken an ominous turn.
According to sources in AAPI, who spoke to The Indian Eye strictly on the condition of anonymity, the controversy took a dramatic turn when Dr Sreeni Gangasani, a member of AAPI, shot an email to all the executive committee (EC) members following his suspension from the organization for alleged irregularities.
Earlier, the sources said, the Ethics and Grievance Committee of AAPI held a meeting on March 3, 2024 to discuss the misconduct of Dr Gangasani and unanimously recommended suspension of his AAPI membership. Based on the recommendation of ethics committee, an emergency meeting was held by the executive committee of AAPI. In the meeting held on March 3, 2024, Dr Gangasani was suspended as AAPI member by the majority of Executive Committee (EC) of AAPI, according to sources.
The AAPI governing body has not issued a public statement on the developments within the organization as yet.
According to a source, following his suspension, Gangasani expressed his “deep disappointment and frustration with the decision to wrongfully” approve his suspension “without full access to facts and proceedings”.
According to a highly-placed source in the organization, Dr Gangasani sent a strongly-worded email to all EC and some other AAPI members in which he accused the members of EC and Ethics and Grievance committee of taking away his “fundamental rights” and “denying to provide” his side of the story and only “relying on non-factual information”.
In the mail, said the source strictly speaking on the condition of anonymity, Dr Gangasani has demanded a “full and fair investigation” into the matter and a reversal of the decision to suspend him immediately.
The controversy and Gangasani’s suspension are related to the bank accounts and payments, said the source, adding that in her response to Dr Gangasani’s mass email, Anjana Samadder, President of AAPI, has accused him of “continuous bullying” through phone calls, emails and in person.
In her response, said the source, Dr Samadder has also denied that action was taken against Gangasani in an improper manner. Dr Gangasani was given ample opportunities to present his side but he ignored all the deadlines, the AAPI president is believed to have written in her email to Dr Gangasani, said the source.
The issue surrounding the suspension of Dr Gangasani is not the only issue plaguing the organization founded in 1982. On March 7, 2024, request for an emergency temporary restraining order (TRO) moved by some members was denied by Arbitrator John C Griffin.
With elections for AAPI executive committee due this year, the raging controversy threatens to dent the image of one of the most prominent Indian organizations in the US.