S. MOHANKUMAR Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody for the alleged offence punishable under Ss. 409, 420 r/w. Sec. 34 IPC and 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 in Crime No.3 of 2023, on the file of the respondent police, seeks bail.

(2.) The case of the prosecution is that on 8/9/2023 at 14.30 hours a complaint was lodged by Marie Josephine Chitra, OSD (Health), Puducherry against Thiru. S.Natarajan, the then Pharmacist, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Puducherry & other officials of NRHM, Puducherry. In which, it is stated that during the year 2019, M/s.Sairam Agency & M/s.Shri Batmajothi Enterprises had supplied various medicines which was administered to the pregnant women by Primary Health Centers, Community Health Centers and Educational Institutions were found containing sediments and emanating pungent smell and unsuitable for distributing to the students. The Vitamin "A" solutions were also found intolerant to children causing vomiting and sickness. The Medicines are substandard quality. During the procurement of the medicines, Thiru.S.Natarajan, Pharmacist and other Officials of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Puducherry has been involved in many misconducts of serious nature such as, supply of sub-standard medicines to PHCs/CHCs and Educational Institutions, and procurement of medicines from the agencies run by his wife and friend and caused huge revenue loss to the Government to the tune of Rs.44,03,252.00. Hence, the case.

(3.) Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is ranked as A10 in this case, and the main accused A1 has already been arrested and released on bail. Another accused, who also worked as one of the Director-Mr.Raman-A11, was also released on bail by this court in Crl.OP.No.30992 of 2025 vide order dtd. 13/11/2025. He further submitted that the offence is alleged to have taken place in the year 2019, and the FIR was registered in the year 2023, and recently, the police have initiated the investigation, though A1 was earlier arrested and released on bail.