The Anti Corruption Wing of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against Dr. R. Arivudai Nambi, technical officer (Drugs) attached to the Air Cargo Complex at the Chennai airport, for amassing wealth disproportionate to the known sources of income.

The Director General of Health Services, New Delhi, has suspended the official since September 17 subsequent to various enquiries in to the allegations on widespread misuse of power.

Talking to Pharmabiz, sources with the CBI confirmed the official and his wife have been booked for amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income and the case was initiated by the agency itself on tip off from sources. "We are investigating the case. At present the case is only against this official. Definitely we will look into his activities in official capacity and related circumstances," said the source indicating the agency may extend its scanner into the functioning of the CDSCO South office.

Reliable sources said the official was alleged to have recently harassed an exporter from Kakkalur near Thiruvalluvar and unnecessarily blocked consignments of a leading biotech company in Bangalore. Further, two leading companies, a Chennai-based manufacturer and a Hyderabad bulk drug manufacturer, leveled complaints against the official a year ago on same grounds and the issue was taken up to the highest authorities.

"When Phamabiz contacted A R Singh, Deputy Drug Controller of India in Chennai, he confirmed the official was suspended by the DG. "I got a communication from Delhi that the official has been suspended. It should be based on various enquiries. I don't know the reasons," opined the official.

Industry observers feel the incident is only a tip of the iceberg, and is a perfect example on the malfunctioning of the CDSCO offices in the country. When Pharmabiz reported a complaint of the pharmaceutical companies about the chronic delays in clearing various regulatory approvals by the CDCSO in its July 22 issue, the DCGI himself had come forward to deny the allegations. Further, Pharmabiz had brought to light many issues related to the malfunctioning of the CDSCO in subsequent editions.

Soon after the Pharmabiz reports, the union ministry of health and family welfare had initiated a departmental inquiry into the functioning of the central drugs standard control organization (CDSCO), which the DCGI denied with terming it only as an internal work arrangement.