Telangana: IMS Joint Director attempts suicide in Chanchalguda prison

The Joint Director of Insurance Medical Services (IMS) allegedly attempted suicide in Telangana prison on October 19. According to the Inspector General of Telangana prisons, Saidaiah, the IMS employee Padmaja informed the women jailer in Chanchalguda women's prison that she has consumed BP tablets more than the dose. According to reports, the victim was immediately rushed to the Osmania General hospital for the treatment. Seven persons were arrested on Friday, October 18, by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) allegedly in connection to a multi-crore medical supplies scam.

The incident

According to reports, earlier on Saturday, the joint director of IMS, Padmaja had told the Chanchalguda women's prison staff that she was depressed and she was unable to stay inside her prison cell. Reacting to it, the officials offered the victim counselling. Further reports stated that the staff gave Padmaja a few tablets as she was suffering from fever and headache. It was then reported that the victim had allegedly consumed all of the tablets at once and attempted suicide. 

Read: Telangana: KCR office lodges complaint over alleged 'fake audio clip'

About the scam

Earlier on Friday, seven persons were arrested in connection with the alleged irregularities in procuring medical supplies meant for the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) hospitals across Telangana. According to reports, the ACB arrested the director of Insurance Medical Services (IMS) Devika Rani. Apart from her, the other six accused who were arrested by the ACB included the joint director K Padma, assistant director Vasantha Indira, senior assistant Harshvardhan, pharmacist Radhika, managing director of Omni Medi, Srihari and his employee Nagaraju.

Read: TSRTC calls for statewide Bandh in Telangana on October 19

The raid

The ACB had conducted raids at 23 places in Hyderabad and Warangal including the residence of IMS director Devika Rani and others on Thursday. According to reports, the enquiry had revealed that Rani and other officials were involved in making fake indents, falsifying records, violating rules and regulations in purchasing medicines, surgical kits, and so on. Further reports revealed that the scam had caused a loss of around Rs 10 crore to the state exchequer.

(WITH ANI INPUTS) 

Read: Telangana: CPI joins striking TSRTC employees, announces solidarity

Read: Telangana HC directs State Govt, TSRTC employees to resolve issues