Punjab drug controller suspended

“At the same time,the department has found some irregularities in the license and purchase of medicines from a Sangrur-based pharmaceutical company,” said Secretary (Health) Satish Chandra.

He,however,clarified that the suspension had nothing to do with the recovery of largescale performance enhancing drugs in Patiala.

According to Chandra,the drug controller had been served a chargesheet pending an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the purchase of medicines in April.

“His performance was not satisfactory,therefore,the state government has suspended him from service,” he added.

Meanwhile,the state government is also reviewing the documents of the pharmaceutical company in question and conducting a probe into the alleged irregularities in the purchase of medicines.

According to sources,the Sangrur-based company continued to supply medicines to the Punjab government,allegedly in manipulation with the said officials after 2006,even after its license was not renewed by the government.

Apart from Bhag Singh,the department had issued chargesheets against other officials like Ajay Singla,Vijay Mattu of the drug controller’s office,S P S Sohal,former director of health department,Rakesh Gupta and deputy director of the health department. But the Badal government is yet to stop them from performing official work.