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Exclusive: What the probe into Madhya Pradesh HIV-thalassemia scandal has found so far

Inadequate records, HIV tests not conducted property among lapses highlighted in preliminary report

3 min readSatnaUpdated: Dec 20, 2025 06:53 AM IST

Madhya Pradesh, HIV, thalassemia, blood transfusions, Satna district hospital, blood centre,

According to the preliminary report submitted by the inquiry team, serious irregularities were found at the blood centre. (Express photo)

A state-level inquiry team constituted by the Madhya Pradesh government to probe how five children with thalassemia contracted HIV during blood transfusions has found major lapses – right from maintaining a record of donors to failing to conduct HIV tests properly, The Indian Express has learnt.

According to the preliminary report submitted by the inquiry team, serious irregularities were found at the blood centre.

These included “failure to properly maintain records of blood donors, non-maintenance of company details and batch numbers of the kits used for blood testing, and failure to properly conduct HIV and other mandatory tests on blood prior to transfusion to children”.

Senior staff of the Satna district hospital who have been named in the report, along with their alleged role.

Dr Manoj Shukla, former civil surgeon-cum-chief hospital superintendent

Shukla has been issued a show-cause notice to explain his conduct, failing which he faces disciplinary action under the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1968.

The inquiry team found that during Shukla’s posting as Civil Surgeon at District Hospital, Satna, he “did not carry out inspections of the blood centre, despite it being your responsibility to periodically inspect the blood centre…”

Must Read | Months ago, 5 kids with thalassemia tested positive for HIV in Madhya Pradesh. Yet, no alarm bells rang

It was also his “duty to ensure proper testing of donor blood and proper maintenance of all mandatory records, which was not done”. The team has said Shukla “grossly violated” his official duties and responsibilities.

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Shukla had told The Indian Express that the nodal officers belonging to the local aids control society had not informed his office about the HIV infection.

Dr Devendra Patel, pathology specialist, and in charge of the Satna district hospital blood bank

Patel was placed under suspension by the state government on Thursday.

As per the inquiry team, his “responsibility was ensuring the smooth functioning of the blood bank”.

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However, these responsibilities were “not discharged, amounting to a gross violation of official duties”, the report states.

According to his suspension order, Patel has been transferred to the Office of the Regional Director, Health Services, Jabalpur Division.

Also Read | In cold blood: How transfusion of HIV-tainted blood in remote Jharkhand district upended lives already derailed by thalassemia

Patel had said all blood samples were tested with the most advanced CLIA (Chemiluminescence Immunoassay) machine and tested negative for HIV at the time of donation.

Rambhai Tripathi, lab technician

His responsibility was to ensure proper testing of donor blood and maintenance of mandatory records. However, blood was “transfused to children without duly conducting HIV and other required tests”.

Nandlal Pandey, lab technician

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As per the probe report, he “failed to conduct proper testing of donor blood in accordance with rules and guidelines. He also failed to maintain mandatory records. “Moreover, blood was transfused to children without duly conducting HIV and other required tests,” the committee submitted.

Multiple teams from the state and central health departments are probing the case. A National AIDS Control Organisation team will arrive in Satna on Friday night.

The probe team is analysing the tracking of nearly 200 blood donors, blood transfusion procedures, verified compliances and a list of private nursing homes where blood transfusions are carried out.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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