CBI to probe medicine purchase scam in Punjab jails

Chandigarh, Aug 30 (UNI) The Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the multi-crore scam of purchase of medicines in Punjab jails.

The court's division bench comprising the acting Chief Justice Harjit Singh Bedi and Justice Ranjit Singh orderd this during the resumed hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Punjab Consumers Society.

The consumers body has levelled serious allegations about these purchases.

In one of the instances, medicines worth Rs 75 lakh were purchased by the Central Jail, Patiala from a firm which was not among the approved sources for such purchases. The state government submitted that the investigations had been conducted and some jail officials censured for acts of omission and commission.

But the bench found it unsatisfactory and handed over the case to the CBI.

UNI XC PS DKB DB2156