New Delhi: Delhi's anti-corruption branch (ACB) has made its first arrest in connection with the alleged Rs 650-crore irregularities in the procurement of medicines and medical equipment. Dr Vinod Ranga, former head of office of Central Procurement Agency (CPA) under Directorate General of Health Services, was arrested on charges of corruption linked to the procurement of medicines, surgical items, medical equipment and other healthcare supplies.
ACB Chief Details Complaint
ACB chief Vikramjit Singh said the agency received a complaint from Delhi government's Directorate of Vigilance regarding alleged large-scale irregularities in the procurement process carried out by CPA. According to the complaint, certain public servants and private individuals entered into a criminal conspiracy to manipulate procurement procedures, tender conditions and technical specifications to provide undue advantage to selected firms and suppliers, causing wrongful loss to the government exchequer and corresponding gains to private parties.
Allegations of Inflated Rates
“The allegations include procurement of portable X-ray machines, bed sheets and linen items, C-arm radiological equipment, anaesthesia workstations, oral rehydration solution, surgical consumables and medicines at highly inflated rates through manipulated procurement processes,” Singh said. It was further alleged that tailor-made specifications were framed to favour select suppliers, genuine competitors were excluded from bidding, and government funds worth several hundred crores were misused.
ACB registered a case under Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, along with provisions related to criminal conspiracy under Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita. Officials examined procurement records, official documents and other evidence.
Missing Files Lead to Arrest
The probe revealed that several crucial files related to the procurement of the items were allegedly withheld by Ranga, who had kept them in his personal custody. Ranga was questioned, but could not provide satisfactory explanations regarding the missing records and other material aspects of the case. ACB said his custodial interrogation was necessary to recover the missing files, uncover the larger conspiracy, identify beneficiaries and co-conspirators, trace the money trail, and recover incriminating documentary and electronic evidence.
He was arrested on June 18 and produced before a court the following day, which granted four days of police custody. The role of other public servants, private individuals, suppliers and beneficiaries in the alleged conspiracy is under investigation.
