Remand for accused doc

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 8 : Dr Mairembam Dinesh, Senior Medical Officer of the Medical Directorate who was arrested yesterday has been remanded to 3 days custody of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Police Station Manipur by Special Judge PC Act Imphal West today.
The senior medical officer was arrested by a team of Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Police at around 4 pm yesterday in a case related to procurement and supply of suspected substandard N-95 masks in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
He was produced in the Court of Special Judge PC Act Imphal West along with a prayer for six days police custody remand for further investigation.
On the other hand, the defense counsel of the accused filed remand objection along with a prayer for releasing him on bail.
The senior medical doctor is alleged to have a key role in the Medical Directorate's procurement of medical protective gears including N-95 masks suspected to be of substandard quality from various firms without following the established norms for distribution to CMOs (Chief Medical Officers) of 16 districts of the State during March-April this year.
Investigating Officer (IO) of the case through Additional Special PP (Public Prosecutor) submitted that the accused played a "key role" in the procurement of the medical protective gear including N-95 masks without supply orders from various firms.
The Court was informed that the Medical Directorate has so far procured 52,100 N-95 masks from five firms M/S Blue Sky Services Guwahati (29,150 pieces); M/S Nim Pharmaceuticals Guwahati (2,000 pieces), M/S Global Infrastructure and Construction, Dimapur C/O M/S Lords Delhi (12,900 pieces), M/S Fama Marketing Guwahati (3,050 pieces) and M/S Yumnam Agency Imphal (5,000 pieces) without issuing supply order to the respective firms and distributed the gears to district hospitals.
It was also submitted that out of 3,050 N-95 masks procured from M/S Fama Marketing, 200 pieces were issued to District Hospital Churachandpur on April 3 and 6  by the accused Dr M Dinesh. All of the masks were found to be of "substandard quality and unfit for use" as medical protective gear to combat COVID-19 pandemic.
On the other hand, the defense Counsel of the accused submitted that all the items in question were procured under "statutory provision" and the accused had "no hand" in procuring the sub standards items. The Counsel alleged that the doctor is being made a "scapegoat" in the case.
The Court after hearing the submissions of both parties, remanded the accused to 3 days police custody till July 10 and directed that he (accused) be produced in the Court at 2 pm of July 10.