The Department of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) Puducherry has arrested six individuals, including three former senior officials of the Health Department, for procurement and distribution of substandard medicines and medical equipment, causing an estimated loss of over Rs2 crore to the government.
Details of the Fraud
The arrests followed a complaint by Marie Josephine Chitra, officer on special duty in the Health Department, alleging violations in procurement norms and delivery of poor-quality medicines to public health facilities.
The accused include:
K V Raman – Former Director, Health and Family Welfare
Mohan Kumar – Former Mission Director, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)
J Allirani – Former Deputy Director and Programme Manager, NRHM
P Mohan – Proprietor, Padmajothi Agency
N Punitha – Partner, Sri Sai Ram Agency
R Nandakumar – Co-partner, Sri Sai Ram Agency
Earlier, pharmacist Natarajan of Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital and Postgraduate Institute was also arrested in connection with the case.
How the Scam Operated
The accused procured substandard iron sucrose injections and supplied them to primary health centres (PHCs) and educational institutions.
Medicines were sourced from Sri Sai Ram Agency and Padmajothi Agency, with ties to the accused.
Large quantities of the medicines were found expired.
DVAC confirmed procedural violations and financial irregularities, highlighting misuse of government funds meant for public healthcare.
