New Delhi, June 19 (IANS) Delhi government’s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has arrested Dr Vinod Kumar Ranga, former head of the Central Procurement Agency (CPA), over alleged involvement in the illegal procurement of medicines, surgical items, consumables and medical equipment, officials said on Friday.

The ACB, in its investigation, found that the doctor failed to give satisfactory answers regarding the missing records of the case.

On Friday, Dr Ranga was produced before the court, which remanded him to four days of police custody for further interrogation.

The ACB in its plea demanded his custody, stating that “custodial interrogation was needed to recover the missing files, unearth larger conspiracy and also identify the other beneficiaries and co-conspirators, to establish the money trail and recover incriminating documentary and electronic evidence.”

The 650 crore drugs procurement scam came into the spotlight earlier this month, over alleged irregularities in the procurement of drugs and medical equipment by the CPA. The incident brought many doctors and medical staff under the scanner of the probing agencies, and a case was also lodged at the instructions of the Delhi LG and the Chief Minister.

The CPA, functioning under the Department of Health and Family Welfare, is the body that procures and supplies medicines and other essential healthcare materials to government health facilities in the capital.

Following the ‘discovery’ of the scam, the Delhi government had transferred more than 40 personnel associated with the CPA to enhance transparency in the health sector.

The ACB, in its investigation, found that several files related to the procurement of portable X-ray machines, bedsheets, radiological equipment, anaesthesia work stations, surgical consumables and medicines were not made available by Dr Vinod Kumar Ranga, and he had kept these files in personal custody.

“The role of other public servants, suppliers and beneficiaries involved in the alleged conspiracy is under scrutiny,” the ACB said in a statement.

–IANS

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