Mumbai; 2 contractual employees booked for allegedly diverting blood bags to private blood bank
Mumbai: Two contractual employees of the state-run Sir J.J. Mahanagar Blood Centre have been booked for allegedly diverting blood collected during a government-organised donation camp to a private blood bank without authorisation.
The FIR was lodged by Dr Suhas Mohanalkar, Additional Assistant Director of the State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC), against the blood centre's Medical Director and Medical Social Officer. The case follows an investigation into the functioning of the government-run blood centre, which recently came under scrutiny after an inspection by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
According to the complaint, the incident took place during a blood donation camp organised at Chinchpokli on January 4, 2026, where the Sir J.J. Mahanagar Blood Centre collected 188 units of blood. It is alleged that 50 blood bags were removed from the collected stock and sent to Maya Blood Centre in Badlapur without obtaining approval from senior authorities.
During an earlier departmental inquiry, the accused reportedly admitted to the unauthorised transfer, submitted a written apology, and deposited Rs 55,000 towards processing charges. The inquiry concluded with a warning being issued to the doctor for inadequate supervision, according to TOI.
The matter resurfaced after an FDA inspection carried out in June reportedly identified several deficiencies in the blood centre's functioning. Following the inspection, the blood centre's licence was suspended, and a fresh inquiry was initiated.
According to the Free Press Journal, a three-member committee constituted by the SBTC examined records of blood donation camps conducted over the past three years and found discrepancies between the number of blood units collected and the entries maintained in official registers, raising concerns over possible diversion of blood bags and lapses in inventory management.
The inquiry has also brought to light other alleged irregularities. Authorities are investigating whether government vehicles assigned to the blood centre were used to transport blood bags to the private blood bank. The probe is also examining allegations of misuse of government-owned equipment and consumables, free supply of blood to private blood centres, and manipulation of expenditure records that may have resulted in financial losses to the government.
To determine the full extent of the alleged irregularities, the State Blood Transfusion Council has ordered a comprehensive audit of all blood bags procured, collected, stored and utilised during blood donation camps over the past three years. The audit will review procurement records, stock registers and utilisation data, while the Audit Inspection Department, Pune, will also examine the records as part of the ongoing investigation.
The investigation is currently underway, and authorities are expected to take further action based on the findings of the audit and departmental inquiries.
