Delhi HC Asks CBI Whether An FIR Can Be Filed Against Allegedly Corrupt AIIMS Officials

The division bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal of the Delhi High Court has asked the CBI to file it’s reply on an application which seeks directions to register cases against corrupt officials of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) Delhi for their involvement in the alleged irregularities in purchase of certain items for surgery department and trauma centre.

The application is a part of the main PIL filed by Centre for Public Interest Litigation, an NGO. In the application, it is stated that “despite there being prima facie findings of corruption by CBI and then CVO (of AIIMS) against some of the senior functionaries of AIIMS, no steps is being taken to register a regular FIR despite there being lapse of considerable time and instead attempt is being made to close the cases through a collusive departmental enquiry”.

It has been further alleged in the application that even though substantial documentary evidence showing corruption of AIIMS functionaries under Prevention of Corruption Act exists, CBI did not register an FIR in the matter and left it to AIIMS to investigate the problem hence the case was closed.

Former Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of AIIMS, Sanjeev Chaturvedi, had earlier accused the Health Ministry of inaction in several graft cases relating to the institution even though multiple charge sheets and CBI reports against certain individuals involved have already been filed.

Senior Advocate Prashant Bhushan is appearing for the NGO.

Earlier, CBI had informed the court that that it had registered nine cases relating to several alleged irregularities at AIIMS in the last seven years. Also, a matter relating to “allegations of irregularities and embezzlement of funds in purchase of surgical equipment” was closed in July last year after no “wrongdoing” was found.

CBI has been directed to file it’s reply in the case on or before February 14, which is the next date of hearing.

This article has been made possible because of financial support from Independent and Public-Spirited Media Foundation.