Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate Police has busted a racket of stealing medical equipment from Odisha State Medical Corporation godown in the city and selling those to private hospitals at cheaper rates.
According to police sources, total six persons, including owners of two private hospitals who purchased the stolen equipment at cheaper rates, were involved in the racket. The accused are Arun Acharya, proprietor of a private hospital in Bhubaneswar, Pramod Swain and his manager Rairanjan Biswal, middleman Lingaraj Sahoo, labour contractor at the godown Manoj Paika and security guard Shantanu Samal.
While Pramod has set up a hospital which is yet to start operations, Manoj used to sell the stolen equipment, which are used in ICUs, to Lingaraj who has links with a doctor in Cuttack. The doctor is absconding, the sources said.
The police have arrested two persons and launched an investigation into the role of four others. Most of the stolen equipment has been recovered from the accused.
A complaint was filed with police about stealing of equipment from the godown in Unit I area on February 19.
