Karnataka Lok Ayukta held a former senior state government official involved in the procurement of drugs guilty of misusing his official position and causing a loss of Rs.78. lakh to the government.

BB Tambakur, a retired additional director, government medical store has been accused of gross misconduct for misleading the commissioner of Health and Family Welfare Sujay Kaul in connection with the procurement of drugs.

Tambakur is guilty of placing an order to procure intravenous drugs directly with the Karnataka Pharmaceuticals & Antibiotics Limited (KAPL) and Pooja Pharmaceuticals without calling a tender, the Lok Ayukta informed.

Investigations have revealed that Tambakur, along with officials of KAPL, a public sector undertaking in the pharmaceutical sector to procure drugs, concealed the exact cost and cited inflated rates to procure the drug. The Lok Ayukta has ordered that the amount Rs.78.85 lakh be recovered from Tambakur and the officials from the KAPL involved in the deal.

KAPL officials were unavailable for comments.

The investigations were conducted following a complaint from SR Mohandas Hegde. Lok Ayukta Justice N Venkatachala has recommended the government to also initiate a departmental inquiry against Tambakur although he has retired from services.

The Lok Ayukta has said that it is high time that the state government implements a comprehensive policy to effectively monitor the mechanism of procurement of drugs to all and proper distribution of the same to all field institutions by ascertaining from such field institutions on the requirement of drugs and the quality of the medicines.

It is important to stop all irrational procurement of essential and life-saving drugs. The drugs should be purchased from manufacturers with good credentials, stated Justice Venkatachala.

It is gathered that when the Lok Ayukta initially challenged Tambakur, he denied the allegations. The scam came to light after a raid by Lok Ayukta after a compliant made to the Karnataka chief minister by SR Mohandas Hegde.

Meanwhile, sources in the government stated that it is not the first time that health & family welfare department along with KAPL are involved in such deals. Around mid-2003, health department violated the Transparency Act 2000 where it purchased a nephrology equipment of Nikkiso, Japan marketed by KAPL. The company was used as a façade to pocket a few lakhs of rupees.