After several months of discreet inquiries, officials of the State Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) registered three days ago two cases against some high-profile officials that include the Director of the DMER Dr. Wasudeo Tayade, his deputy, Dr. P.S. Shringare, Chief Administrative Officer Chintamani Chavan and the Joint Secretary in the State Medical Education Department S.N. Ramkhambe. The registration of cases sent shock waves in the state secretariat and state-run medical colleges and hospitals throughout the state. Another deputy secretary of State Medical Education Department is also under the scanner of the ACB.

An ACB official speaking to Arab News on condition of anonymity said the cases against the four were registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Abetment and Conspiracy. He said Dr. Tayade was the Chairman of the Central Purchase Committee (CPC) while the three others were members of the committee.

In the FIR registered by the ACB, it said the four had manipulated the tender process resulting in a loss of Rs.35 crore to the state exchequer. An investigation officer said that the ACB registered criminal cases under the PCA and Indian Penal Code against the four and also against two Pune-based distributors. "Prima facie it has been established that the four top government officials had manipulated the tender process to benefit distributors. The CPC is responsible for purchase of equipment for government-run medical colleges."

The officer revealed that the accused purchased 14 ventilators for Pune-based Sassoon General Hospital with a market value of Rs. 8 lakhs each for Rs. 33 lakhs each. Similarly the accused purchased one Linear Accelerator Machine meant for Radio Therapy and Lung Cancer for the Government Medical College in Aurangabad for Rs. 18 crore while the actual price of the machine is Rupees 6 crore. They also purchased the same machine with an updated version for the Cama Hospital in Mumbai for Rupees 33 crore, while the market price is Rs. 13 crore.

A senior ACB official said the agency started the probe into the scam after receiving information from sources. "We were stunned to know that the four high-ranking officials manipulated the tender process and changed technical specifications which resulted in a huge loss to the state exchequer." 

According to DMER sources, Dr. Shringare had put in his papers on Friday night to be forwarded to the government by another accused, Dr. Tayade, for acceptance. But since Dr. Tayade was alleged to be undergoing sustained interrogation by the ACB till late evening, the resignation could not be forwarded.

Dr. Tayade is also being probed for presenting a fake birth document and fudging his age and getting extension. "The scam is of much larger scale and we may interrogate some more government officials, including medical professors and former and acting deans of the medical colleges," said the ACB official.