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Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Systemic corruption exposed in ₹500cr medical deal: Chhattisgarh vigilance agency
Raipur: Systemic corruption and procedural violations in procuring medical equipment and reagents committed by officials posted in the medical department have been found in the ongoing investigation into the 2023 case of financial misconduct in medical procurement, officials from Chhattisgarh's economic offences wing (EOW) and anti-corruption bureau (ACB) have said. The vigilance agency has so far arrested six people --- Shashank Chopra , Basant Kumar Kaushik, Kisraudra Rautia, Dr Anil Parsai, Kamkalkant Patanvaar and Deepak Bandhe --- who are currently in judicial remand. A chargesheet was filed by EOW in Raipur court on April 25 highlighting serious lapses by the directorate of health services (DHS) and the Chhattisgarh medical services corporation limited (CGMSCL) led to financial losses of around ₹500 crore to the state exchequer. The EOW investigation revealed that tender committee meetings lacked proper collective deliberation and documentation. 'Neither were all members' signatures obtained, nor was the process transparent,' the chargesheet said. Instead, accused officials conducted a 'tabletop exercise,' bypassing procedural norms and concealing critical information from the committee. The findings also exposed that purchase orders worth ₹314.81 crore were issued by CGMSCL on June 2, 2023, without an approved budget or administrative permissions and procurement was based solely on an anticipatory budget approval, bypassing financial prudence. The EOW questioned DHS for ignoring essential infrastructure requirements like refrigerators for storing reagents at 2-8°C. 'Despite being aware of this shortfall, DHS directed CGMSCL to supply reagents to health centres, resulting in massive wastage as the reagents expired due to improper storage,' the chargesheet said. Also Read:FIR filed for irregularities in Chhattisgarh health dept procurement in 2023 'A major concern was the procurement of EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) tubes at exorbitant rates. While such tubes cost ₹1.50– ₹8.50 per unit in the market, CGMSCL purchased them for ₹23.52 and ₹30.24 per unit, causing a loss of approximately ₹2 crore. Investigators found deliberate delays and procedural manipulations to benefit a private supplier, Mokshit Medicare Pvt. Ltd,' the chargesheet said. The EOW cited instances where objections by committee members, such as Dr. Arvind Neral, regarding inflated rates were overruled by accused officials. 'Accused Kshirodra Rautia misled the technical committee and violated legal provisions to favour Mokshit Corporation,' the chargesheet added. Also Read: Explainer: The Centre's medical devices policy 2023 It was also found that key officials ignored essential steps like cancelling inappropriate orders or ensuring installation of supplied equipment. 'Devices were left locked, storage requirements were ignored, and millions worth of reagents expired unused, indicating a well-organised nexus between the supplier and officials,' the chargesheet said. An FIR was filed on January 22 against the officials of the Chhattisgarh's health department and four private firms.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Time of India
₹550 crore medical purchase scam: Chhattisgarh ACB/EOW files chargesheet against six
Raipur: The Chhattisgarh Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offences Wing ( ACB/EOW ) on Saturday filed a chargesheet against six persons for alleged irregularities in purchase of medical equipment and reagent chemicals in 2023 that caused a loss of ₹550 crore to the state exchequer, an official said. The 18000-page chargesheet names Shashank Chopda, director of Mokshit Corporation, and Basant Kumar Kaushik , Chhirod Rautia, Kamalkant Patanwar, Dr Anil Parsai and Deepak Kumar Bandhe, who were posted with the state-run Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation Ltd (CGMSCL) at the time, he added. "Kaushik was in charge general manager (equipment) and deputy manager (purchase and operations) of CGMSCL. Rautia and Bandhe were biomedical engineers. Patanwar was then deputy manager (equipment) and Parsai was then deputy director (stores). Chopda was nabbed on January 29, while the five were held in March," he said. On January 22 this year the ACB/EOW lodged a case against officials of the CGMSCL (Raipur) and Directorate of Health Services department as well as four firms, namely Mokshit Corporation (Durg), CB Corporation (Durg), Records and Medicare System HSIIDC (Panchkula, Haryana) and Shri Sharda Industries (Raipur), as well as others. The case was lodged under Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act, the official added. As per the ACB/EOW, the alleged scam involves purchase of reagents and equipment without checking requirement/availability of these items in health centres. The CGMSCL has made purchases worth billions of rupees between January 2022 to October 31, 2023 in collusion with Mokshit Corporation and its shell company, its said. "For instance, the EDTA tube used for collecting blood samples was purchased from Mokshit Corporation at the rate of Rs 2,352 per piece, while the same material was purchased by other institutions at a maximum rate of Rs 8.50," it said. The CBC machine, which is sold by the manufacturing companies in the open market for Rs 5,00,000, was provided to CGMSC for Rs 17 lakh by Mokshit Corporation, the ACB/EOW as claimed.
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Business Standard
26-04-2025
- Business Standard
Rs 550 cr medical purchase scam: Chargesheet against six in Chhattisgarh
The Chhattisgarh Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offences Wing (ACB/EOW) on Saturday filed a chargesheet against six persons for alleged irregularities in purchase of medical equipment and reagent chemicals in 2023 that caused a loss of Rs 550 crore to the state exchequer, an official said. The 18000-page chargesheet names Shashank Chopda, director of Mokshit Corporation, and Basant Kumar Kaushik, Chhirod Rautia, Kamalkant Patanwar, Dr Anil Parsai and Deepak Kumar Bandhe, who were posted with the state-run Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation Ltd (CGMSCL) at the time, he added. "Kaushik was in charge general manager (equipment) and deputy manager (purchase and operations) of CGMSCL. Rautia and Bandhe were biomedical engineers. Patanwar was then deputy manager (equipment) and Parsai was then deputy director (stores). Chopda was nabbed on January 29, while the five were held in March," he said. On January 22 this year the ACB/EOW lodged a case against officials of the CGMSCL (Raipur) and Directorate of Health Services department as well as four firms, namely Mokshit Corporation (Durg), CB Corporation (Durg), Records and Medicare System HSIIDC (Panchkula, Haryana) and Shri Sharda Industries (Raipur), as well as others. The case was lodged under Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act, the official added. As per the ACB/EOW, the alleged scam involves purchase of reagents and equipment without checking requirement/availability of these items in health centres. The CGMSCL has made purchases worth billions of rupees between January 2022 to October 31, 2023 in collusion with Mokshit Corporation and its shell company, its said. "For instance, the EDTA tube used for collecting blood samples was purchased from Mokshit Corporation at the rate of Rs 2,352 per piece, while the same material was purchased by other institutions at a maximum rate of Rs 8.50," it said. The CBC machine, which is sold by the manufacturing companies in the open market for Rs 5,00,000, was provided to CGMSC for Rs 17 lakh by Mokshit Corporation, the ACB/EOW as claimed.
