A scam of crores of rupees was done in the purchase of advanced vessel sealing equipment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh. In this case, apart from a senior officer of AIIMS, two companies providing equipment and their officials have been booked under sections related to criminal conspiracy, cheating and obtaining undue advantage to a public servant, including the Prevention of Corruption Act.
In this case, on August 21, Satish Kumar Rathi, Additional SP of Crime Prevention Branch, Dehradun, has filed a case. In which it was told that the CBI, Crime Prevention Branch and AIIMS officials had investigated on March 31, 2023, following complaints of huge financial irregularities in the purchase of equipment.
In which it was learned that the tender process was done between January 8, 2019 and February 22, 2019, for the purchase of advanced vessel sealing equipment at AIIMS Rishikesh. In which Balram G. Omar, Additional Professor, Department of Microbiology, working in AIIMS Rishikesh, was appointed Purchase Officer and Coordinator.
CBI investigation revealed that AIIMS Rishikesh purchased seven advanced vessel sealing equipment at the rate of Rs 55,38,312.70 per unit from the lowest bidder, Arogya International Company, for a total of Rs 38,76,8188.93, bypassing the tender conditions .
While earlier AIIMS Rishikesh had purchased the same equipment at the rate of Rs 19,92,480 per unit. AIIMS Rishikesh also procured seven advanced vessel sealing equipment from another company M/s Riya Agencies for Rs 54,82,852.79 per unit for a total of Rs 38,37,9969.53.
It was also revealed in the CBI investigation that M/s Riya Agency had never provided such equipment to any government and reputed private organization. Nor is this company the manufacturer and authorized distributor.
It was also found in the investigation that these equipments purchased at the cost of crores were not used for three years. An amount of more than Rs 6.57 crore was scammed in this purchase.
On being found guilty in the investigation in this case, Dr. Balram G. Omar, Additional Professor, Department of Microbiology, AIIMS, M/s Arogya International, Central Market, Prashant Vihar, New Delhi and his partners Suman Verma and Vishwaveer Verma residents of Pitampura, New Delhi as well as M/s. A case has been registered against Riya Agencies, Transport Nagar, Jodhpur, Rajasthan and its partner Nikhil Kumar r/o Mahadev Road, New Delhi, Aditya Kumar Singh r/o Jagsara, Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh and another.
It is being told that on Wednesday the CBI team reached AIIMS Rishikesh to investigate the matter. The CBI has taken Balram G Omar, additional professor of AIIMS named in the case, and another into custody for questioning. Although it could not be officially confirmed.
