CBI-ACB raids Command Hospital

The raid,following a corruption complaint by a medical store vendor,Kannan Nambiar,that he had given an AC as bribe to get his payment and the store officials were demanding more,were continuing till late into the night. The police reached the hospital around 10 pm,sources said.

Senior police,Army and CBI officials were holding a meeting late at night to discuss the issue. CBI officials said they would file an FIR against the Command Hospital for obstructing the team.

In the evening,Vidya Kulkarni,CBI-ACB superintendent,said,“We had certain inputs following which our team raided the Command Hospital this morning. We tried to seize an air-conditioner,the hospital officials refused to allow us to take possession of the AC. They obstructed our work…They snatched the panchanama papers from our officials and refused to allow our officials to come out. That is why we sought additional force from the city police.”

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone IV) Sanjay Jadhav,said,“CBI-ACB Superintendent Vidya Kulkarni sought help from us. A police team was sent to the spot to help the CBI.”

Police Commissioner Meeran Borwankar sent an SMS,“We provided assistance to CBI as requested by them.”

She,however,denied that CBI officials had been forcibly confined. “Not true,” Borwankar said.

Major General S S Panwar,Commandant,Command Hospital,while denying any “CBI investigation” at the store,alleged “some vendors” banned from supplying medicines were making false allegations to malign the hospital. He said a few vendors had been banned for non-compliance and supply of wrong medicines. “We had given them due warning and had sought an explanation,” said Major General Panwar.

According to Panwar,the requirement of medicines on an emergency basis can vary and “we can place an order of upto one lakh at a time.”

The suppliers are approved by the office of the Director-General of Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS). A present there are 70 vendors to provide medicine. “Some vendors who are not able to supply bulk orders in time,and according to the rate agreed upon,were banned,” said Panwar. “We have also provided proof and other evidence to support our complaint,” Major General Panwar added.