Patna medical college supply ‘scam’: ED attaches assets worth Rs 3 crore
The attachments were made under PMLA in connection with allegations that PMCH officials, in collusion with various suppliers, procured medicines and equipment at exorbitant rates and in much higher quantities, causing a loss of “approximately Rs 12.63 crore” to the exchequer.
2 min read
A prosecution complaint was filed before Special Court (PMLA) in Patna, which took cognisance of money laundering offence in April 2022. With the latest order, the total value of assets attached in now stands at `6.15 crore.The ED has provisionally attached 10 properties valued at around Rs 3.01 crore in Greater Noida, Patna, and Darbhanga, as part of its probe into the alleged Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) medical supply scam.
The attachments were made under PMLA in connection with allegations that PMCH officials, in collusion with various suppliers, procured medicines and equipment at exorbitant rates and in much higher quantities, causing a loss of “approximately Rs 12.63 crore” to the exchequer.
The ED initiated its investigation based on an FIR and chargesheet filed before the Special Vigilance Court in Patna, under various sections of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The case, originally registered by the Bihar Vigilance Investigation Bureau, named the then PMCH superintendent, Dr Om Prakash Choudhary, among the accused.
According to officials, alleged irregularities occurred during the financial years 2008-09 and 2009-10, when hospital authorities, “in connivance with various suppliers, purchased medicines, chemical reagents, machines, and medical equipment” at inflated prices and in quantities far above actual requirements.
Earlier, in November 2020, the ED had attached movable and immovable assets worth Rs 3.14 crore belonging to “Dr Om Prakash Choudhary, Dr Vinod Kumar Singh, Dr Ganesh Prasad Singh, Amit Kumar Dhandhania, Bimal Dalmia, and their family members”.
These assets, including flats, land, luxury vehicles, and bank deposits, allegedly represented proceeds of crime, as per ED officials, who said provisional attachment was confirmed by Adjudicating Authority under PMLA in New Delhi in April 2021.
A prosecution complaint was filed before Special Court (PMLA) in Patna, which took cognisance of money laundering offence in April 2022. With the latest order, the total value of assets attached in now stands at Rs 6.15 crore.
You May Like
Photos
