AstraZeneca under CBI scanner over medical supply scam

The CBI has unearthed an alleged scam of Rs 10 crore in the purchase of anti-biotic shots by the Delhi government at inflated prices from a Bangalore-based multinational pharmaceutical company.

The agency found that Directorate of Health Services, Delhi has given a rate contract of Rs 1,530 (excluding VAT) per gram vial of Meropenem, an injectible antibiotic, in 2009 to multinational company AstraZeneca India Pharma Limited, CBI sources said.

[caption id=“attachment_227557” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The company got the contract by furnishing allegedly a false affidavit that it is not supplying the vial to any other public organisation at a rate lower than quoted by it for supplies to the Delhi government. Reuters”]  [/caption]

The company got the contract by furnishing allegedly a false affidavit that it is not supplying the vial to any other public organisation at a rate lower than quoted by it for supplies to the Delhi government, which was “contrary to the fact and by making false submission grabbed the supply contract”, a CBI officer said.

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The CBI alleged the company kept supplying the medicine at an inflated rate even after show cause notices were issued against it for the recovery of Rs 7.5 crore from it by Chief Medical Officer in-charge of Central Protection Agency.

The agency carried out searches at Okhla and Bangalore offices of AstraZeneca India Pharma Limited and booked it through its Director Anand Balasundaram along with unnamed Delhi government officials. Despite repeated requests to give their comments, the company did not respond in the case.

PTI