Kozhikode: A move to sack officials who unearthed corruption in the Kerala Medical Service Corporation Limited (KMSCL) has come to light. Massive fraud worth crores of rupees over emergency purchases for the public health sector during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic is suspected and the disciplinary proceedings are reportedly a cover-up bid as well as vendetta.
Notices on why action including dismissal from service should not be initiated against the whistleblowers have been served to the deputy manager (purchase) of the Karunya Pharmacy's Purchase & Sales Division which comes under the KMSCL. An assistant manager who reported to the higher-ups about the erasing of 3,000 files pertaining to the shady deals from the computer network has also been served a show-cause notice.
The officials who erased the decisive files have been, for the time being, let off with a minor punishment like suspension.
The scam
As reported earlier corruption and irregularities were justified in the name of emergency purchase of products and equipment meant for containing COVID-19. PPE kits, medicines and medical equipment were purchased at three times higher than the market price and that too without tender and quotation and stocked up as the pandemic broke out in early 2020. Almost Rs 1600 crore has been spent by the KMSCL for buying medicines, various equipment and essential items such as sanitary products since March 2020. The essential commodities were purchased and stocked up by...
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