Council stalled over drug scam

PATNA: The multi-crore drug scam case stalled the proceedings of the council during question hour after BJP members created ruckus in the House for government’s failure to lodge FIR against two key officials allegedly involved in the scam.
The two officials were the then Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Limited (BMSICL) MD Pravin Kishore and the then joint secretary of health department Sanjay Kumar.
State health minister Ramdhani Singh, while replying to a question of Baidyanath Prasad of BJP, categorically said that the government did not find any suitable reason to lodge FIR against these two officials. How can the government take action against central government officials? the minister asked the House.
Several BJP members, including Mangal Pandey, Satyendra Narayan Kushwaha, Rajnish Kumar, Baidyanath Prasad, Sanjay Mayukh and Nawal Kishore Yadav trooped inside the well of the House, forcing chairman Awadhesh Narain Singh to adjourn the House till lunch break.
Earlier, the minister said the government has recommended suspension and initiated departmental inquiry against these two officials to the general administration department. The department has also suspended three officials, initiated departmental proceedings against four officials and deducted one month’s salary of three officials, he said.
Later talking to reporters, BJP member Mangal Pandey said the government is trying to protect CM Nitish Kumar who was also holding the post of health minister during that period. “The minister said the government cannot take action against central government officials. Then, how the government suspended then PMC commissioner Kuldip Narayan and then DIG Alok Kumar,” Pandey asked.