New Delhi: In a recently submitted verification report by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has recently submitted a verification report, the director and a senior doctor of AIIMS has been found responsible for irregularities in purchase of medical supplies. The report came following a complaint made by the vigilance department of the premier medical institute.

Appropriate action will be taken by AIIMS against Dr MC Misra, the head of department, Surgery at Apex Trauma Centre AIIMS, and Dr Amit Gupta, additional professor, in view of the verification report, according to a ‘self-contained note’ written by the CBI to the chief vigilance officer, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Dr Misra is currently the director of AIIMS.

Then CVO of AIIMS Sanjiv Chaturvedi had alleged criminal misconduct by Assistance Store Officer TR Mahajan at JPNA Trauma Centre, AIIMS, and Dr Amit Gupta in purchase of two items, fogging solution and disinfectants, from companies whose sole distributor was a firm owned by the son and daughter-in-law of the store officer.

The complaint also stated that these items were not proprietary in nature, yet purchases were made by bypassing the General Financial Rules (GFR) provisions and invoking the provisions relating to proprietary items.

“Dr Amit Gupta signed the proprietary certificate dated 6/11/12 in respect to Cleanex Floor Disinfectant and another propriety certificate dated 14/3/13 in respect of Ultrasan Aerox Fogging Solution. However, these certificates which were initially for one-time purchase, were repeatedly used by the store officer for placing repeat orders without going through any tendering process or a fresh Proprietary Certificate,” the verification report of the CBI stated.

“The store officer used the proprietary certificate of Dr Amit Gupta repeatedly to obtain approval of head of the department, surgery, Dr MC Misra, who didn’t object to the same,” it further stated.
The investigating agency also observed lapses during the verification on part of Dr Gupta and Dr Misra in addition to the misconduct done by the store officer.

“Dr Amit Gupta declared Cleanex Floor Disinfectant and Aerox Fogging Solution, products of Aspetix Netherlands as proprietary in nature in an ad hoc manner without adequate care and purchases were made in spite of the existing rate contract of the main hospital. Dr MC Misra approved the use of the aforesaid proprietary certificate for repeated purchases without due diligence,” the report states.

Dr Amit Gupta who is also an AIIMS spokesperson, reportedly told media sources that AIIMS has zero tolerance for corruption. “Statutory compliances of CVC guidelines are being ensured. Timely audit of all procurement is being done”.

He also added that the CVO has not pointed out any procedural lapses in handling of corruption cases and that the institute has also submitted its replies to the Delhi HC on the case.