Delhi/Jalandhar, April 23, 2013: The Special Judge for CBI Cases, Bangalore has convicted T. Mukthamba, IAS (Retd), the then Project Director, Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS), Bangalore and three others G. M. Renukaiah, the then Technical Assistant Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society, Bangalore ; Bharat B. Ostwal, Proprietor of Rahul Pharma, Bangalore and Jeetendra Kumar M Ostwal, Proprietor of Life Associates, Hubli and sentenced them to undergo three years simple imprisonment with fine of Rs.1,40,000.
The investigation, by the CBI, revealed that National AIDS Control Organisation, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, (Govt. of India) New Delhi had sanctioned a grant for purchase of consumable items for 17 Additional blood banks @ Rs.1.25 lakh per blood bank. The Deputy Director (Blood Safety), KSAPS had sought permission of Project Director for utilising Rs.10 lakhs from the fund towards purchase of 17,000 of 350 ml blood bags approximately costing of Rs.62 per blood bag and for another Rs. 10 lakh for purchase of HCV Elisa Test Kits and HCV Tridots.
The Deputy Director had deliberately kept the amount to be spent on purchase of blood bags as Rs.10 lakh, to avoid inviting of National Competitive bidding and to facilitate National Shopping Process in which quotation from any three suppliers was required. The note of Deputy Director was allegedly approved by the then Project Director T. Mukthamba on same day. Accordingly, quotations were called and supply order was given to Rahul Pharma for supply of 17,000 Blood Bags at the rate of Rs.62 per blood bag. The act of the accused persons had caused a wrongful loss of about Rs.11,05,320.
The spokesperson CBI said that CBI had filed a charge sheet after completion of investigation against six accused persons i.e T. Mukthamba, IAS (Retd), the then Project Director, Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society, Bangalore ; the then Deputy Director ; G. M. Renukaiah, the then Technical Assistant both of Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society, Bangalore ; Bharat B.Ostwal, Proprietor of Rahul Pharma, Bangalore and Jeetendra Kumar M Ostwal, Proprietor of Life Associates, Hubli U/s. 120B r/w 420 IPC and 13(1) (d) and 13(2) of PC Act, 1988. The Deputy Director died during the course of trial.
The Trial Court found all the five accused guilty and convicted them.