Bihar CM rules out CBI probe into drug purchase case
2 min readPatna: Chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Monday ruled out a CBI probe into the purchase and supply of substandard and ‘misbranded’ medicines in Bihar hospitals by Bihar Medical Services Infrastructure Corporation Limited, a public sector undertaking. Leader of opposition in the assembly, Nand Kishore Yadav, demanded a CBI probe into the purchase of medicines worth Rs 67 crore by the corporation from a banned company, Embark Life Sciences Private Limited.
CM said a high-level inquiry has already been ordered into the case. “Our agencies are competent to conduct a fair probe. They are doing good work. The BJP demand for a CBI probe into everything small or big is beyond logic,” Manjhi commented.
BJP MLAs demonstrated at the assembly gate demanding a CBI probe into the medicine purchase. They also shouted slogans on the same issue inside the assembly and entered the well of the House in support of their demand. They demanded criminal cases against the drug manufacturer and the officials and ministers who ordered its purchase.
Earlier, Yadav said on October 4, 2013, a JD (U) MLA had written to former chief minister Nitish Kumar, who also held the health portfolio at that time, against the drug company. Still, the government agency purchased drugs worth Rs 67 crore from the same company in January this year. There was neither any quality check of the drugs nor was done any inspection of the godowns or warehouse where the drugs were kept before being supplied to the hospitals. At one of the government hospitals, expired drug was supplied. The hospital superintendent had refused to entertain the drug.
Yadav said there had been serious irregularities in the purchase of medicines by the corporation. He alleged the controversial drug which claimed the life of a patient at Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College Hospital at Bhagalpur was without wrappers. Its manufacturing date was also deleted. The drug manufacturer was banned for 2013-15, still the corporation purchased drugs from it, he alleged.
Courtesy: TNN
