Anomalies in purchasing dental chairs ; Court fixes next hearing on May 18
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 21 2016:
After the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) submitted a charge sheet against former RIMS Director Prof Sinam Sekharjit and four others in connection with the alleged financial irregularities in the purchase of dental chairs for Dental College and Hospital of RIMS in 2013, the Court of Special Judge (PC) Imphal West has fixed May 18 for charge hearing of the case.
All five of them appeared before the Court today.
The charge sheet was submitted to the Special CBI Court (Sessions Court, Imphal West) against Prof Sinam Sekharjit of Singjamei Chingamathak, Principal of RIMS Dental College and Hospital, Dr Rajiv Ratna Singh from Uttar Pradesh, Chief Accounts Officer cum Financial Advisor of RIMS, Elangbam Debendro, former Medical Superintendent of RIMS, Haobam Shanti of Wangkhei Khunou and M/s Mukherjee Enterprises proprietor Subhendra Mukherjee of Kolkata.
The charge sheet was submitted under RC 6 (A) of 2014 under Section 120 (B), 420 (Cheating) and 428 and 471 of IPC.
The Court gave cognizance to the accused of the charge sheet filed against them by the CBI.
All five of them appeared for the hearing today and four of them took Vakalatnama (power of attorney) except for Subhendra Mukherjee.
The case was registered by CBI (ACB) based on a specific information regarding a 'criminal conspiracy' by these officers and a private individual while purchasing 38 dental chairs, accessories and other equipment between January and June, 2013, sources said.
The dental chairs were allegedly acquired at an inflated rate of Rs 3,75,000 per chair although the dental chairs of the same standard were available at the market at Rs 1,31,000 per chair causing a loss of more than Rs 50 lakh to RIMS.
The tender notice to purchase the dental chairs was issued by Prof S Sekharjit on January on 15, 2013.However, the notice did not mention the required number of dental chairs.
Following the notification, RIMS received quotations from M/s North East Dental Depot, Guwahati, M/s Unicorn Denmark Ltd, New Delhi, M/s Mukherjee Enterprises Kolkata, M/s NIM Pharmaceuticals, Guwahati and two other firms.
It may be mentioned that CBI raided RIMS Administrative Block and the quarters of Prof Sekharjit on September 12, 2014.
The CBI team which was accompanied by a large number of security personnel went to the quarters of Dr Sekharjit at around 6 am with due orders from the relevant authority that day.
Soon after the raid at Dr Sekharjit's quarters began, another CBI team rushed to Dental College and Hospital Principal Prof Rajiv Ratna Singh's quarters and raided it.
Another CBI team sealed the office of Chief Accounts Officer (RIMS) the same day as he was not present at the office at that time.
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