Puducherry: In a major crackdown, the Department of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has arrested six individuals, including three former senior officials of the Health Department, for their alleged involvement in a medicine and medical equipment procurement scam that caused a loss exceeding Rs 2 crore to the Puducherry government. According to a recent media report in the Times of India, the arrests came after investigators confirmed that substandard and expired medicines were procured and distributed across government hospitals and educational institutions in the Union Territory. Those arrested include former Director of Health and Family Welfare K.V. Raman, former Mission Director of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) Mohan Kumar, and former Deputy Director and Programme Manager of NRHM J. Allirani. Also arrested were Padmajothi Agency proprietor P. Mohan, Sri Sai Ram Agency partner N. Punitha, and her co-partner R. Nandakumar. All six accused were produced before a local court and remanded to judicial custody. The case originated from a complaint filed by Marie Josephine Chitra, Officer on Special Duty (Health Department), who alleged that several procurement norms were violated and poor-quality drugs were supplied to public health facilities. Acting on her complaint, DVAC registered a case under Sections 409 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Earlier, DVAC had also arrested Natarajan, a pharmacist from the Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital and Postgraduate Institute, in connection with the case. Investigations revealed that iron sucrose injections were procured from Sri Sai Ram Agency—where Natarajan’s wife was a partner—and Padmajothi Agency, owned by his associate. These medicines were found to be substandard or expired and were supplied to Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and other institutions. DVAC officials stated that the arrests followed a detailed inquiry confirming large-scale procedural violations and financial irregularities in the supply of medicines meant for public use. TheTimes of Indiareports that the agency is continuing its investigation to identify additional individuals involved in the procurement process.