Bidar. 26 Dec

The investigation team constituted by the State government has found large-scale irregularities in the Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences (BRIMS). Retired judge SJ Palled, who headed the investigation, has found irregularities in decisions made by BRIMS Director Dr Shivakumar Shetkhar, including in recruitment to posts, payments made to institutions, and the purchase of medicines.

Among other irregularities, a single payment of Rs 1.54 crore was made to the Manjira Institution. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) conducted an audit of BRIMS accounts for the period from 2019–20 to 2022–23 and prepared an audit report highlighting several lapses.

The investigation team found that objections were raised regarding the payment but there is no information on whether the Accountant General has accepted the explanations submitted by BRIMS.

The report submitted to the Medical Education Department states that such irregular payments of institutional funds have caused financial loss to both the institution and the government.

During the financial years 2023 to 2025, under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, expenditures and related documents, as well as purchases of medicines and chemical materials under budget head 103, reveal that procurements were made through quotations instead of tenders, and payments were released accordingly.

Large-scale purchases were carried out through the quotation process. However, stock registers were not maintained to record procurement and supply.  

The report says it is a violation of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act, 1999.

The Medical Education Department has already issued a notice to Shetkhar and has stated that action will be taken even if no reply is submitted.

“We were supposed to pay (Manjira Institution) Rs 1.70 crore, but the tender was blocked and the payment has not been made yet,” Shetkhar told Salar News.

However, BJP District President Somnath Patil told Salar News that the corruption continued with support from the government’s District-in-Charge Minister Eshwar Khandre.

“I demand immediate suspension of officials. It’s been a month since the investigation report submission with no action taken,” he said.