New Delhi, Nov 6 (UNI) Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday said that it has provisionally attached movable and immovable assets totaling to Rs 3.14 crore sunder Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) in the case of criminal misconduct and cheating involving former Medical Superintendent of Patna Medical College and Hospital Om Prakash Choudhary and others.

ED officials said that the attached immovable properties are in the form of plots, flats in Patna, Ghaziabad, Pune and Bangalore whereas the movable assets are in the form of three vehicles and balances in bank accounts.

ED initiated investigation under PMLA against Om Prakash Choudhary and others on the basis of FIRs registered by Bihar Government’s Special Vigilance Unit for commissioning of offences under section 120B and 420 of IPC read with section 13 (1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

“During investigation it is revealed that medicine, chemical, equipment and machines were purchased by the officials of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) Patna during the period 2008-09 and 2009-10 from the local vendors and commission agents in contrary to guidelines prescribed for purchase of these items”, the probe agency said.

It is further revealed that during the period 2008-09 & 2009-10 the then Superintendent, the then Deputy Superintendent, the then concerned faculty head of PMCH and others in connivance with the suppliers had purchased medicines, chemical reagent, machines equipment at higher rate and in much higher quantity than the required quantity which resulted in loss to government exchequer, the officials added.

Investigations conducted so far resulted in identification of the assets totaling to Rs. 3.14 Crore which have been provisionally attached under PMLA, the ED officials said, adding that further investigation in this case is under progress

UNI AKS SHK2000