AIIMS staff arrested in Rs 13.8 crore purchase scam

The police said the two employees, identified as Bijender Kumar, storekeeper and Naveen Kumar, programme assistant (contractual) were allegedly involved in cheating, conspiracy and causing loss of Rs 13.80 crore to the government exchequer.

Dr Anoop Daga, Medical Superintendent at Rajender Prasad Eye Centre of AIIMS lodged a complaint regarding embezzlement of government funds to the tune of Rs 5 crore (raised to Rs 13.85 crore during the investigation) on account of purchase of linen items. These items were never supplied but payment for the same was released to the supplier firm, said RK Singh, Additional Commissioner of Police, EOW.

According to preliminary enquiry a case under sections 409/420/467/468/471/120-B of IPC was registered.

During the investigation, it was revealed that the linen items, against which payments were released to the accused firm, were never delivered to the AIIMS Delhi, said Singh.

During investigation, it came to notice that both, Bijender and Naveen, issued forged supply orders in connivance with the accused firm. In response to forged supply orders the accused firm submitted only invoices, delivery challans without physical delivery of the goods. The receipts of goods were not found in the other registers of the General Store. Bills were raised by the accused and got approved himself. Both were apprehended on Wednesday and produced before the court, said Singh.

The account statement of the firm confirmed receipt of payments for items. Scrutiny of the e-way bills revealed that vehicles shown as used for delivery of those goods to AIIMS, never delivered the same at AIIMS Delhi on any of the dates mentioned on e-way bills.

Scrutiny of GPS logs of the vehicles appearing on the e-way bills shows their locations out of Delhi. Bijender allegedly prepared the forged purchase performa, supply order, inspection note and secured the release of payments in favour of the firm. Indents for the goods were issued through the official ID of Naveen and the same were also verified by him. All the manual and digital records maintained at AIIMS for the purpose of such supplies revealed criminal misdeeds of the accused in connivance with the accused firm, said Singh.

During investigation, it came to notice that both, Bijender and Naveen, issued forged supply orders in connivance with the accused firm. In response to forged supply orders the accused firm submitted only invoices, delivery challans without physical delivery of the goods. The receipts of goods were not found in the other registers of the General Store. Bills were raised by the accused and got approved himself. Both were apprehended on Wednesday and produced before the court, said Singh.

Also Read: Private firm owner held for duping AIIMS Delhi of Rs 13.85 crore