Odisha doc couple sent to jail for prescribing inferior cancer drugs

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Sep 16:

Odisha Vigilance today arrested a doctor couple on charges of prescribing low-quality medicines to cancer patients.

The Vigilance arrested Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology of the Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre (AHRCC) Dr. Surendranath Senapati and his wife Dr. Deeptirani Samanta an Assistant Professor in Department of Medical Oncology in the same hospital.

The Vigilance also arrested the proprietor of the pharmaceutical manufacturing firm JBSL Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Sudhanshu Das which had supplied low-quality drugs meant for cancer patients.

The couple and the manufacturer of the low-quality drugs were produced before the Special Vigilance Court after their arrest.

The trio was sent to Choudwar Circle Jail. Their bail pleas will be taken up for hearing at the Special Vigilance Court Cuttack tomorrow.

“The Vigilance has forwarded three of them-Dr Surendranath Senapati his wife Deeptirani Samanta and proprietor of the pharmaceutical fire to court. We sought time from the court to submit the Case Diary (CD). We will submit the CD tomorrow and their bail applications will be taken up for hearing by the court,” Ajay Kumar Patnaik, counsel for Vigilance told reporters.

The Vigilance had raided the Majestic Towers residence of the doctor couple in Mangalabag on allegations of amassing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income on August 9.

According to sources, the anti-corruption wing officials had detected assets of around Rs 3.6 crore in their possession. The immovable assets include 12 plots in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Pune. The sleuths detected 1250 gm gold and diamond jewellery, Rs 14.42 lakh cash and bank deposits of Rs 34.51 lakh, market investments of Rs 23.59 lakh and fixed deposits of Rs 9.80 lakh.

It is alleged the duo prescribed anti-cancer drug manufactured by a company which was available at a particular outlet.

The Vigilance had also raided the pharma company’s godowns and a pharmacy shop.