Patna: The vigilance investigation bureau on Friday submitted a chargesheet in the special vigilance court against two persons in connection with the purchase of Excimer Laser machines worth Rs 1.5 crore in the 1996-97 financial year at Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS).
Excimer Laser machines are used in laser eye surgeries to reshape the cornea and correct refractive errors, including myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism.
The bureau submitted a chargesheet against Sumit Bagoria, then president of the Bangalore-based Gainwell Medimart Private Limited and its current director.
Earlier, the bureau had submitted a chargesheet against former IGIMS director D.K. Yadav, the former eye department head Dr Mahesh Chandra, former financial adviser S.I. Gaiyn and the agent of the Bangalore-based company, Neil Mohan, on June 20, 2007, showing that the probe was underway against former health secretary C.K. Basu, then IGIMS director P.S. Choudhary, Dr Mrinal Anand, Dr Subhash Prasad, T. Chidambaram and the company itself.
The bureau told the special vigilance court, headed by Madhukar Kumar, on Friday that C.K. Basu had died on December 16, 2017, and the health department had not given prosecution approval to Dr Mrinal and Dr Subhash.
Akshay Kumar Mishra, the vigilance deputy superintendent of police and investigating officer, told the court that despite repeated requests, the health department did not give its approval for Dr Mrinal and Dr Subhash for prosecution, so the chargesheet could not be filed against these two.
The bureau had lodged the case on March 4, 2006, against 10 persons, including seven gazetted officers and three company officials following complaints of gross financial irregularities in the purchase of the laser machines.
Investigations found out that the old machines were purchased to dupe the institute.
The tender was given to the firm despite the fact that the US-based company, which produces such machines had closed long before. The IGIMS officials therefore did not follow the rules and regulations while floating the tender. Moreover, machines of lower price was bought and higher prices were shown in the bills.
