During the investigations, vigilance officials found another recording in which Gupta purportedly demanded Rs 4.25 lakh for arterial blood gas (ABG) machines.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 3, 2023 02:46 IST
A medic wearing PPE kit at a public health centre (PTI Photo/File)
By Lalit Sharma: The Himachal Pradesh State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on Thursday arrested former director of health services Dr Ajay Gupta, in connection with a bribery case. It has been alleged that Dr Ajay Gupta was involved in a PPE kit purchase scam during the Covid-19 pandemic period. Following his arrest, the investigating agency produced him in court and Gupta was sent to police remand till February 4.
He is accused of taking bribe during the Covid period. He was earlier arrested by the anti-corruption bureau in an alleged corruption case based on a purported audio recording of financial transactions of Rs 5 lakh for the supply of PPE kits on May 20, 2020.
He was booked under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and was suspended.Gupta surrendered before the court after rejection of his anticipatory bail application by the High Court of HP. The case involves taking a commission/ bribe money of Rs 4.25 lakhs for the purchase of ABG machines during his tenure as DHS.
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The scam surfaced on May 20, 2020 after an audio clip of a conversation between Dr Gupta and Prithvi Singh, a representative for a medical equipment supplier in Punjab, was widely shared on social media. In the 43-second audio clip, Dr Gupta is purportedly heard asking Prithvi a bribe of Rs 5 lakh to seal the deal.
Prithvi Singh was allegedly willing to pay Rs 3 lakh bribe for clearing a Rs 1 crore PPE kit order. Prithvi recorded the conversation and sent it to Dr Gupta, probably to blackmail him.
After the Congress party raised its voice, former BJP chief Rajeev Bindal stepped down from the post on May 28, 2020 after his name was dragged into the scam. Another case was registered against him in September 2020 and he has now been arrested in connection with this case.
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