The report by retired High Court judge John Michael D’Cunha, who probed alleged irregularities in the purchases during COVID-19 pandemic and its management, during the previous BJP government, has found discrepancies in RTPCR testing, manpower recruitment and procurement of equipment and drugs at the State-run Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology (KMIO).
It has recorded irregularities to the tune of ₹264.37 crore at the premier cancer care institute.
Pointing out that these findings were based on a few files submitted to the commission, the report recommended that a separate officer be appointed to conduct a comprehensive probe by studying all files. It recommended that notices be issued against the then Kidwai director, penalties slapped on suppliers, and excess amount paid be recovered from various agencies.
Extent of irregularities
While irregularities in RTPCR testing and manpower recruitment amounted to ₹125.46 crore and ₹74.58 crore, respectively, irregularities in equipment and drug procurement amounted to ₹31.07 crore and ₹33.24 crore.
According to the report, a lab that was run by Kidwai in a public-private partnership (PPP) with Bangalore Medical Systems (BMS) was showcased as an in-house lab and charges were paid to the PPP partner for COVID-19 tests without any tender. This
