The Mumbai city economic offences wing (EOW) has filed an FIR against Mylan Laboratories and others for supplying BMC Remdesivir vials at an inflated rate, resulting in a loss of Rs 5.96 crore. The BMC had issued tenders for procuring the antiviral drug during the Covid-19 pandemic. The first tender was for 40,000 vials at Rs 650 per vial, but only 31,000 vials were supplied. The second tender, for 2 lakh vials, was given to the same company at a higher price of Rs 1,568 per vial. The EOW is investigating the remaining vials and the total amount paid to the supplier.
The city economic offences wing (EOW) has registered an FIR against Mylan Laboratories and others for supplying BMC Remdesivir vials during Covid pandemic at an inflated rate, resulting in a loss of Rs 5.96 crore.
Owing to a surge in Covid-19 cases in the city, BMC had floated tenders in 2021 for procuring injections of antiviral drug Remdesivir.
As per the first tender given to the company, it was to supply 40,000 vials, at a cost of Rs 650 per vial. However, it supplied only 31,000 vials.
“The supply of the first order was not even completed by the supplier and second tender order, for 2 lakh vials, was given to the same company. This time, price of a vial was Rs 1,568. Duration between the two orders was just two weeks. Moreover, BMC received only 65,000 vials in the second order,” said the officer. EOW is probing about remaining vials and total amount was paid to the supplier.
EOW is also probing why there was so much difference in prices within two weeks.
On July 28, EOW registered four preliminary enquiries in connection with alleged irregularities over spending by BMC during the Covid pandemic. The FIR regarding alleged financial irregularities in the purchase of Remdesivier injection at an exorbitant price was one of these enquiries.
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