The State Government on Tuesday suspended the Director of Health Services, Ashok Sharma, after the lokayukta submitted a challan in special court in a case relating to anti-tuberculosis drugs purchase against him.
The Health department issued orders regarding his suspension on Tuesday. During suspension, Sharma would remain attached to the State Health Directorate, Bhopal, official sources said.
The scam took place in 2007 and the lokayukta recently got permission from the State government to prosecute Sharma in the case, sources said.
Sharma was chargesheeted in the court last week after he was found guilty in the free medicine distribution scheme.
Notably, Special Police Establishment (SPE) of lokayukta prosecuted Dr Sharma under the Prevention of Corruption Act before a special court (corruption cases).
Sharma was alleged to have purchased anti-TB drugs in violation of norms in 2007, with an apparent intention to benefit a private company. Special Judge RPS Chouhan granted bail after Sharma furnished securities and two personal bonds of Rs 50,000 each.
SPE officials said that Dr Sharma procured anti-TB drugs worth more than Rs 37 lakh in 2007 on his own despite a government circular that the same were being delivered free by the Centre. The officer was told not to purchase streptomycin (injection) as the requirement of anti-TB drugs, including injection streptomycin, was being fulfilled by the Central government, said an official.
SPE investigations revealed that during the preceding three years, there was no justification for purchasing such a huge quantity of anti-TB drugs and the purchase was made not in public interest.