CBI raids AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Interrogates 27

Bhubaneswar: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday carried out a five-hour raid at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar following allegations of irregularities in the recruitment process. Acting on a tip-off and several complaints, the CBI team interrogated 27 individuals including staff from the institute and seized crucial documents related to the alleged scam.  

The CBI team comprising nine members conducted a raid within the Academic Block of the hospital. Their investigation focused on how four temporary staff members from the same family managed to secure permanent job positions—two posts for sanitary inspector and two for clerk—without any new candidate being given the opportunity.

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Additionally, it was discovered that these employees had submitted fake certificates, including forged work experience letters obtained from Ghaziabad and Gorakhpur. However, the agency's suspicion became strong after it noticed how a premier institute like AIIMS failed to detect fraudulent activities during the verification process.  

Suspecting a potential larger loophole in the institute's recruitment process, the agency team spent hours examining the recruitment files, certificates and employment records along with digital evidence and communication records of the suspected four individuals. It is reported that these four employees are currently on the run.

As per a TOI news report, a written examination was held by a central PSU in 2023-24 for four positions at AIIMS Bhubaneswar - Two posts each of sanitary inspector and medical record technician. Recently the CBI got a complaint that the four selected candidates used forged documents to secure the jobs. As per the report, CBI found that all four were previously working at AIIMS only as temporary employees through an outsourced agency.

Initially hired on a contract basis through an outsourcing agency, the individuals were later made permanent employees, allegedly bypassing standard recruitment procedures. Reports suggest that AIIMS Bhubaneswar may have engaged in the practice of hiring contractual employees and subsequently regularizing their positions. This has raised concerns about the transparency and fairness of the institution's hiring process, Financial Express reports.  

A source from CBI told TOI, "The central PSU that conducted the recruitment test has been asked to provide detailed information about their candidate verification process. Questions have emerged about how the fake documents went undetected during the initial screening phase. CBI is also investigating the role of a middleman connected to the outsourcing company, who is believed to be the key orchestrator of the recruitment irregularity."

Meanwhile, the AIIMS authorities denied any involvement in the recruitment scam and confirmed their cooperation with the agency's investigation. 

"Our establishment has nothing to do with the recruitment irregularities. The test was conducted by a central PSU. We handed over some documents sought by the CBI," said an AIIMS officer on the condition of anonymity.

No official statement has been released by the agency yet as they continue investigating the alleged scam and find out the exact number of individuals involved with the case. 

Also Read: Weekly OPD service provided at AIIMS Satellite Centre Balasore: MoS Health