CBI busts cancer drug purchase scam, recovers Rs 1.6 crore in cash

New Delhi: CBI on Tuesday claimed to have recovered Rs 1.6 crore in cash during searches at the residence of former divisional medical pfficer (DMO) posted at Railway Divisional Hospital, Northern Railways Lucknow in a case of alleged fraudulent purchase of cancer medicines worth Rs 2.94 crore. CBI sources said searches took place in connection with a case registered against then Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) of the Hospital U Bansal, the then Additional CMS Rakesh Gupta, DMO Sunita Gupta, Pharmacist SS Mishra and Hospital Attendant Tara Chand. [caption id=“attachment_2764398” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] CBI Spokesperson RK Gaur said the searches spanned across 13 locations in Lucknow and two places in Rae Bareli. Rakesh Gupta and Sunita Gupta are currently posted in Rae Bareli while Bansal has retired. The sources claimed that the agency recovered Rs 1.6 crore from the residence of Sunita Gupta, whose husband is a leading oncologist in Lucknow. They said property documents were also recovered and some lockers are also being opened. The premises of three pharmaceutical suppliers — Ayush Medical, JK Medicos and Malviya Pharma — were also searched. “It was alleged in the complaint that number of irregularities were noticed during internal vigilance check at Railway Divisional Hospital, Northern Railway, Lucknow relating to procurement of anti-cancer medicines on local purchase basis within financial powers of chief medical superintendent, Lucknow during the period 2012-2014, and found alleged fraudulent purchases of Rs 2.94 crore (approx),” Gaur said. The agency has registered the case under IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery among others besides provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.