By IANS
Bhopal : Madhya Pradesh Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Jamuna Devi Friday accused Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Health Minister Ajay Vishnoi of being involved in a scam in purchase of medicines.
Talking to newsmen, Devi alleged that irregularities to the tune of Rs.1 billion had taken place in the purchase of medicine through the Madhya Pradesh Small-scale Industries Corporation (MPSIC).
“Medicines are being purchased at 40-50 percent higher price than the prevailing market rate. This way, loss of over Rs.1 billion has been caused to the state exchequer. Purchases worth Rs.1.7 billion have been made at higher prices,” she said.
Devi alleged that Chouhan and Vishnoi had a role in the scam since they changed the medicine purchase policy and centralised it.
“The chief minister’s secretariat was also involved in the whole episode and this was evident from the fact that chief minister’s secretary has been given the additional charge of MPSIC managing director,” she asserted.
“There have been cases when purchases have been made without approval and payments have been made even without supply of medicine. I have a note sheet of the health commissioner saying that medicines worth Rs.125 million have been purchased without prior approval.
“We will lodge a complaint with the Lokayukt about it.”
Madhya Pradesh Congress General Secretary Manak Agrawal and Sajjan Singh Verma were also present on the occasion.