More heads roll, as ACB expedites IMS scam investigation

Hyderabad: Senior assistant Mudimela Surendernath Babu serving at the ESI Hospital — at RC Puram in Sangareddy — was arrested by the sleuths of ACB on charges of corruption and misconduct. He had allegedly forced his subordinates to sign the indent of medicines required for organising a medical camp, though they held no medical camp.

This comes after the arrest of seven government officials including IMS Director Dr Ch Devika Rani and two other doctors, for allegedly cheating the government. Devika conspired with other officials to prepare fake indents and indulged in the falsification of records, violating norms for purchasing medicines and surgical kits. They caused a loss of Rs 11.69 crore to the exchequer. More heads are likely to roll as the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau expedites investigation into the multi-crore scam related to the Insurance Medical Services (IMS).

Surendra, in collusion with other accused, had siphoned off funds causing a loss to the exchequer, found investigators. He also urged the medical officer of Patancheru to sign the indent for medicines and diverted the said medicines. He was thereby colluding with other accused officers, namely Joint Director P Padma and Pharmacist M Radhika.

Meanwhile, ACB officials continue their searches at several locations in Telangana and even in Andhra Pradesh in connection with the fraudulent transactions regarding the purchase of medicines from several unauthorised sources. They are also analysing several audio tapes which are believed to be conversations between several accused individuals. The result of which may lead to more arrests in coming days. The investigative teams are digging deep into the contacts of the accused during their stint at their respective positions.