Kozhikode: The Drugs Control Department on Monday conducted another round of inspection at a private hospital in Cheruvannur from where surgical spirit was allegedly stolen by a security guard and three persons died after consuming it near Kunnamangalam on Saturday.
The officials recorded the statement of a doctor, who is also a director board member of the hospital, to ascertain the total quantity of methylated spirit kept there and the actual quantity used for medical purpose. The hospital management told the officials that they procured 15 litres of surgical spirit through a Malappuram-based company and there was no violation on their part in securing it.
They also claimed that the surgical spirit was reportedly stolen from the casualty section and it was meant for cleaning medical utensils. However, they were not clear about the quantity found to be missing.
Assistant Drugs Controller P.N. Jayan, who led the team, said there was prima facie negligence on the part of the hospital authorities in preventing the misuse of the stock. “We have asked them to submit the records related to recent purchases. If any irregularity is found, their drug licence will be suspended,"he added. After the inspection, the department submitted a report to the State Drugs Controller and the Licensing Authority on Monday.
Meanwhile, Kunnamangalam Station House Officer S. Rejeesh, who is investigating the case, said the lab report from the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, was crucial for further probe. "All required samples have been sent for the lab examination and we hope to get it at the earliest," he said.
An eight-member gang consumed the spirit after mixing it with brandy near Kunnamangalam on June 22. Two of them- C. Balan and Sandeep Sreenivasan- died at the medical college the same day. The third victim, Chekkutty Kattangal, died the next day.
All the other five persons managed to survive. It was Sandeep, the security guard at the private hospital, who secured the spirit and distributed it among others. The police had registered a case under section 174 (Unnatural death) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
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