The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau will investigate the alleged irregularities in the procurement of bleaching powder by the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited (KMSCL), Health Minister K. Muraleedharan said here on Wednesday.
The Minister has written to the Home Department seeking a Vigilance investigation into the allegations. He said that his decision to seek a VACB investigation follows fresh evidence and allegations of serious irregularities in purchase, as reported by certain sections of the media.
In the light of the new evidence, the earlier enquiry report submitted by the Principal Secretary (Health) cannot be accepted, he said.
KMSCL had invited an open e-tender in February for procurement of bleaching powder for 2026–27 under a one-year rate contract. The procurement has since come under scrutiny over allegations that the prescribed store-purchase rules and tender procedures were violated, resulting in substantial unnecessary expenditure to the exchequer.
The Minister had on July 7 directed the Principal Secretary (Health), to inquire into allegations that KMSCL’s purchase of bleaching powder between March 11 and May 6, 2026, had resulted in an avoidable expenditure of ₹7.32 crore.
The inquiry was also intended to ascertain whether the prescribed procurement procedures and tender conditions had been followed by KMSCL, whether the material was purchased at a reasonable price, and whether the purchase had resulted in any financial loss to the government.
The Minister has now taken the stance that the Principal Secretary’s report is no longer tenable as media reports have pointed to anomalies which were at variance with the findings in the enquiry report.
Mr. Muraleedharan said that those responsible would be identified and action taken against them. The money allegedly squandered from the public exchequer would also be recovered from those found responsible, he said.
It may be recalled that Mr. Muraleedharan, has already ordered two enquiries involving the KMSCL. One of the enquiries are about medicines worth ₹50 crore procured by KMSCL, which remained date-expired in KMSCL warehouses. The other enquiry relates to a corporate membership bought by KMSCL in Trivandrum Tennis Club, by spending ₹19.13 lakh.
Published – August 19, 2026 09:29 pm IST
