Accused doctor granted bail
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 10 2020:
Session Judge Imphal West has granted interim bail for 2 months to Senior Medical Officer Mairembam Dinesh on medical ground today.
The 51-year-old Senior Medical Officer of the Medical Directorate was arrested on July 7 in a case related to procurement and supply of 'substandard' medical protective gear from various firms allegedly without following norms.
He was earlier remanded to custody of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Police.
The bail application was filed on July 8.OC Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Police Station also submitted a report about the hospitalization of the accused at ICCU Ward Number 3.The IO submitted that the investigation has revealed that in the early part of the March the senior doctor was entrusted by the higher authorities to contact the firms which would supply the medical protective gears including N-95 masks and PPEs.
Subsequently the supply order was awarded to Rahul Jain of Progressive Enterprises Guwahati, which was one of the suppliers if he agrees to pay 12 percent as commission, alleged the IO.
Rate quotations of four firms were also collected from Blue Sky Guwahati, Plastisurge Guwahati, Mahabir Pharma and Surgical Guwahati, Plastisurge Industries Amravati and Patni Pharmaceuticals, Guwahati.
The rate quotations were addressed to the accused and not to the Director of Health Services, said the IO in the submission.
The tender documents were opened on March 13 and Blue Sky, Guwahati was accepted as the supplier of the masks.
The submission of the IO further alleged that on the advice of the higher authorities of NHM, the accused played a key role in procuring medical protective gears before any administrative decision was taken.
The protective gears including 2000 N-95 masks suspected to be of sub-standard quality were allocated to the district hospital of Churachandpur.
The Special PP submitted that since the case is sensitive and involves health of the people and needs further investigation prayed for further remand of the accused.
After hearing the defence counsel as well, the Court observed that though the case is sensitive took note of the health status of the accused and granted bail.
The accused was also instructed to appear on September 11 with the medical paper showing his treatment.