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Corruption in AIIMS: HC seeks CBI stand

Senior Lawyer Prashant Bhushan had filed a writ petition in the High Court against CBI and AIIMS, which had come up for hearing on Wednesday.

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The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a reply in a matter pertaining to alleged irregularities in purchases, worth lakhs, made in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). It asked why an FIR was not registered in the matter even after the Central Vigilance Officer (CVO) of AIIMS submitted a complaint.

Senior Lawyer Prashant Bhushan had filed a writ petition in the High Court against CBI and AIIMS, which had come up for hearing on Wednesday.

In an inquiry conducted by the then AIIMS CVO Sanjeev Chaturvedi, and then the CBI, it was revealed that Aerox Fogging Solution and Ultrasan Floor Disinfectant worth Rs 1,974,375 for the JPNA Trauma Centre were bought without following rules. Assistant Stores Officer TR Mahajan had bought the items from the Drishti Surgical Medicos in 2012 and 2013.

Mahajan later admitted that the company from which he made the purchases was owned by his son and daughter-in-law, who started the business in 2011. The petition further stated that Mahajan had wrongly declared the trauma centre purchases as "proprietary", and bypassed the General Financial Rules (GFR).

The CBI had also noted that Mahajan obtained a one-time certificate from Dr Amit Gupta and then used it at least nine times to place repeat orders, without facilitating the tendering process, which was also approved by AIIMS Director Dr MC Mishra.

Many disinfectants and fogging solutions available in the market at lower rates are currently being used in the hospital's main building.

In an ironic situation, the CBI forwarded this note to the Health Ministry to take action as it deemed fit. The Ministry forwarded the file to its CVO Manoj Jhalani, who was also the interim CVO of AIIMS after Chaturvedi's transfer. Jhalani reported to Mishra, and so the note with CBI inputs ultimately landed at Mishra's desk only.

Meanwhile, the petition further alleged that irregularities worth Rs 60 lakh were revealed in store purchases for the Department of Surgery, headed by Dr Mishra. The surgical equipment and materials bought lay unused for two-four years and then crossed the expiry date. In this case as well, facts prima facie pointed to an anomalous financial practice, the CBI had noted.

When queried, V Srinivas, Deputy Director (Administration), AIIMS, said: "We have been asked to file a reply, as also the CBI, which we will do."

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