ONGC set to ban Jorhat racket physio clinic
ONGC has finally begun the process of banning a Jorhat-based physiotherapy clinic implicated in a medical scam.
On March 7 (2024), ONGC management agreed to begin the process of banning Kiran Physiotherapy Clinic, allegedly involved in providing fake prescriptions for non-existent physiotherapy sessions in Jorhat. PK Goswami, a GM at the Jorhat basin office, has been appointed as inquiry officer and has asked all ONGC offices to provide information on the clinic and the likely impact of banning the contractor and its partners.
By March 22 (2024), asset managers must provide the information, following which Kiran will be banned if there are no objections. ONGC's ban comes nearly a year after the CBI conducted anti-corruption raids on May 9 (2023) against ONGC deputy general manager and orthopaedist Dr Bijoy Shaw in Guwahati and the Kiran Physiotherapy Clinic in Jorhat.
On May 4 (2023), Nirupam Banerjee, a GGM and head of corporate vigilance, filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Kiran after reporting the matter to the CBI on May 1 (2023). Banerjee's complaint to the CBI accused Dr Shaw, contractual medical officer (occupational health) Dr Eashitva Tamuly and Kiran proprietor Jadumoni Hazarika of "criminal conspiracy."
Shaw was fired in May 2023 after the CBI raid, we hear. On March 5-6 (2024), ONGC chairman Arun Singh promised strict action against employees or former employees taking undue advantage of medical facilities during a visit to Assam.
But some wonder why it has taken so long to initiate the ban process for Kiran. In his CBI complaint, Banerjee claimed Kiran had even sent a prescription on behalf of a deceased ONGC employee.
Some believe ONGC could have done more to stamp out the medical racket. "A complete inquiry has yet to happen," complains an insider.
"Some people have escaped punishment." In a November 15 (2022) vigilance report, Banerjee claimed that out of 63 people for whom prescriptions were written, 29 had neither requested them nor received any medicines despite ONGC receiving bills from pharmacies.
Over the next few months, multiple CBI raids took place against pharmacies and clinics.