A health official, who was due for retirement from service in just two weeks, has been suspended for allegedly demanding a bribe for doing an official favour, sources said on February 10.

The joint director of Health in the district Elangovan was placed under suspension for seeking money from a private hospital owner for certification of a scanning equipment purchased from Chennai, the sources said. Also, the official sought money from a contractor who was buildingan annexe of the district headquarters hospital in Tenkasi, they said.

The joint director was to retire on February 28. On a complaint from the private hospital owner and the contractor, Elangovan has been suspended pending equiry, they said.