Cuttack, Oct 5: Today bail was granted by the Orissa High Court to the doctor couple, Dr. Surendranath Senapati and Dr. Deeptirani Samanta. They were arrested allegedly prescribing inferior quality drugs to cancer patients who came under the Odisha State Treatment Fund (OSTF) and the Biju Krushak Kalyan Yojana (BKKY) schemes. Dr. Senapati is a professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology of the Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre (AHRCC) and Dr. Samanta is an assistant professor in Department of Medical Oncology in the same hospital. They were arrested by Vigilance officials on September 16.
The proprietor of the pharmaceutical manufacturing firm, JBSL Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals, Sudhanshu Das which had supplied low-quality drugs meant for cancer patients was also taken into custody by the officials.
On Sept 17, the bails pleas of the trio were rejected by the Special Vigilance court here. It’s stated that the doctor couple is also accused for recommending non-reputed pharmaceutical companies to Odisha State Medicine Corporation Limited (OSMCL). It’s also stated that the price of the drugs prescribed by the couple was higher compared to competitor brands of reputed companies. On Aug 9 the Vigilance had raided the Majestic Towers residence of the doctor couple in Mangalabag for amassing disproportionate assets.
Around assets of around Rs 3.6 crore had been detected from their possession. The immovable assets include 12 plots in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Pune, 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. The pharma company’s godowns and a pharmacy shop had also been raided.
