AIIMS graft: Health ministry examines CBI verification report

Union Health Ministry today said that it was examining the verification report submitted by CBI over irregularities in purchase of equipment at AIIMS and will initiate necessary action after taking a holistic view of the report.
The CBI had recently submitted a verification report to the Ministry following a complaint made by the then AIIMS CVO Sanjiv Chaturvedi over irregularities in purchase of medical supplies at the premier medical institute.
"Yes there is a CBI verification report. They have found the AIIMS store manager primarily responsible. Even before the verification report came, the store manager has been put under suspension. We are examining the report. We will then take a holistic view and necessary action will be initiated," said a Ministry source.

He maintained that the intent of the ministry was quite clear as it did not wait for the verification report and initiated action against the store manager by suspending him a year back.
According to reports, the CBI in its verification report had found the director and a senior doctor of AIIMS responsible for irregularities in purchase of fogging solution and disinfectants.
The source pointed out that although the report asks the Ministry to take necessary action, it does not mention any action against any specific individual.

However, AIIMS has asserted that no irregularity has been made in the procurement of medical supplies by JPNA Trauma Centre.

Ex-CVO of AIIMS Sanjiv Chaturvedi, who was removed in 2014, had alleged criminal misconduct by Assistance Store Officer T R Mahajan at JPNA Trauma Centre and Dr Amit Gupta in purchase of two items, fogging solution and disinfectants, from companies whose sole distributor was a firm owned by the son and daughter-in-law of the store officer.
Commenting over the case, AIIMS said that it had placed store officer T R Mahajan under suspension and a charge-sheet for major penalties was also issued against him.
"Following a departmental enquiry, the enquiry officer has concluded that none of the charges against Mahajan stand proved. The findings of the enquiry officer will be placed for consideration of President AIIMS.

"At this stage, AIIMS would like to place on record that no irregularity has been made out in the procurement of disinfectants and fogging solutions by JPN Trauma Centre," AIIMS spokesperson Neerja Bhatla said.