Graft in Purchase Of Medicines: ACB intensifies probe into IMS irregularities

Hyderabad: On the directions of the Telangana government, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials on Thursday intensified the investigation on the allegations of corruption and irregularities in the department of Insurance Medical Services (IMS).

The sleuths conducted searches on the offices and residences of IMS officials and private persons, including a private TV channel reporter involved in the case in 21 places in Hyderabad and other places.

The officials primarily identified that corruption to the tune of Rs 10 crore and irregularities occurred in the case.

The enquiry revealed that the IMS Director and other officials were involved in making fake indents, falsification of records, violating the rules and regulations in purchasing medicines, surgical kits, etc and caused huge losses to the government exchequer. Officials said that after completing all searches, a detailed report will be filed on the corruption and irregularities.

Earlier, allegations came against the officials that two fake indents for medicines worth Rs 1.03 crore were prepared by Dr K Padma, Joint Director in Hyderabad on May 26 and May 28, 2018 and claimed bills through the in-charge medical officers concerned of dispensaries, namely Patancheru and Borabanda. Later, medicines worth Rs 1.22 crore indented and received by Dr K Padma but the stock was not sent to the dispensaries of Bollaram and Bonthapally during May 2018.

Dr Ch Devika Rani, Assistant Director Dr K Vasanta Indira and other officials have caused a loss of Rs 9.43 crore to the government exchequer in the purchase of medicines through Special Drug Dispersing Unit (SDDU) in local purchase instead of rate contract during 2017-2018.

They have inserted 286 Purchase Orders (POs) in the month of August 2018 as if it was issued on May 17, 2018 by cancelling 26 earlier Purchase Orders by inserting ante dated RC number entries in the records for causing benefit to pharma companies.

ACB sleuths registered a case under sections 13 (1) (C) (d), 7 (a), 13 (1) (a) r/w 13 (2) 0f PC Act and 477 (A), 465, 468, 471, 420 r/w 120-B, 34 IPC and took up investigation.