The JDU, facing heat in the medicine purchase scam, has hit back by alleging irregularities in the purchase of medicines during the period BJP ministers looked after the health department.
The ruling party has alleged irregularities to the tune of Rs 7 crore in the Purnea division in the purchase of medicines and equipment in 2008-2009. At that time, BJP’s Nand Kishore Yadav headed the health department. The party has fished out an inquiry report, a copy of which is with The Telegraph. The report suggests that irregularities in the purchase of medicines to the tune of Rs 7 crore but no action was taken against the defaulters.
The inquiry report, however, does not specify the role of Nand Kishore Yadav in the irregularities. It targets then civil surgeon of Purnea as responsible for the irregularities.
The JDU MLA from Baikunthpur, Gopalganj, Manjit Kumar Singh, made the disclosure while talking to this correspondent on Tuesday.
The 2,742-page inquiry report submitted by regional deputy director, health services, Purnea division, to the divisional commissioner, Purnea clearly states that then Purnea civil surgeon violated all the set norms in the purchase of medicines and equipment to benefit a supplier named, Messrs High Tech Health Care, Laheriasarai, Darbhanga.
MLA Singh has alleged that at the time of the bid, a relative of a senior state BJP leader was the director of the aforesaid firm.
The inquiry report states that then Purnea civil surgeon invited tenders on August 6, 2008, and on February 19, 2009, for purchase of medicines and equipment.
The inquiry report further reads: “Surpassing all the Rules in this regard, some tenders were only accepted on the basis of financial tender while the Rules clearly states that without technical tender financial tender should not be opened at first hand. In most of the cases technical tenders were not submitted by the bidders altogether.” Again, some bids were also accepted without requisite papers attached with the technical tenders. Even rates for medicines were earlier approved by the government which clearly violated the Bihar Finance Rules, 2005, the inquiry report states.
The regional deputy director, health services, in his report has written that in spite of several letters to the Purnea civil surgeon to provide details of the medicines and equipment he purchased in 2008-2009, hardly any information was provided.
Of the medicines and equipment worth Rs 6.77 crore purchased by the civil surgeon in 2008-2009, medicines worth Rs 5.4 crore were supplied by a single company, Messrs High Tech Health Care, Laheriasarai, Darbhanga.
The deputy director further states in his report that only after complete information is provided by the Purnea civil surgeon, the situation can become clear. The report clearly indicted Purnea civil surgeon as it reads: “Going by all the records of medicine purchase in 2008-2009, charges levelled against the civil surgeon that he acted in such manner to benefit a single firm, seems to be true.”
When contacted, then health minister Nand Kishore said he could not comment on the matter, as the decision related to purchase of medicines is not taken at the ministerial level. He advised the reporter to talk to then health secretary Deepak Kumar in this matter. Repeated calls to Deepak Kumar on his cellphone went answered.
