CWG: BJP alleges scam in purchase of medical equipment

“It is a major scam. We compared rates of four items with market rates and found that government incurred a loss of Rs 3 crore for these four items,” Gupta told reporters here.

Justifying his claim of products being bought at a very high rate,Gupta said the government was buying 124 trolley beds from a company called Surgicoin at a price of Rs 2.75 lakh per bed while the same bed from the same company is available in the market for Rs 1.60 lakh apiece.

Giving another example,he said 41 ultrasound machines

were being procured at a rate of Rs 3.5 lakh per piece against the actual price of Rs 77,000. He said government has bought 36 shifting trolley at a price of Rs 72,000 per trolley against the market price of Rs 42,000.

“We have checked four items and found that the government incurred a loss of Rs 3.5 crore for these four items. They are buying 34 items. Then imagine the amount,” Gupta said,providing documents to support his claim.

The BJP leader also alleged corruption in purchase of ambulances by the city government.

He said despite a High Court order in 2007 directing the government to make available 450 ambulances under the centralised accident and trauma (CAT) services,35 such vehicles are actually available now.

“They are making the last-minute purchases at hugely inflated rates. A loot of tax-payers’ money is taking place.

We all know who benefits from the last-minute purchases. We are surprise why the Chief Minister is keeping mum,” he said,adding the government does not have a policy or guidelines for last-minute purchases.

Alleging corruption in all Commonwealth Games projects,Gupta said the Central Vigilance Commission report “exposed” the financial irregularities.

According to an assessment report prepared by CVC’s Chief Technical Examination Wing,large-scale procedural violations,including corruption,have been noticed in 16 different projects being carried out by various departments.