ED files supplementary charge sheet in ₹12.63-crore PMCH procurement scam
Synopsis
More than 15 years after the alleged irregularities, the ED has moved to widen its money laundering net in the PMCH procurement scam — adding ₹3.01 crore in freshly traced proceeds to an already-attached ₹3.14 crore. The supplementary charge sheet signals the agency is far from done in a case that exposed alleged collusion between hospital officials and suppliers in Bihar's largest government medical college.
Key Takeaways
The ED, Patna Zonal Office filed a supplementary prosecution complaint on 6 July 2026 in the PMCH procurement scam .
The alleged scam involved irregular purchases during 2008–09 and 2009–10 , causing an estimated loss of ₹12.63 crore to the state exchequer.
The supplementary complaint names Om Prakash Pandey , proprietor of M/s Balajee Enterprises , among others.
Earlier, assets worth ₹3.14 crore belonging to O.P.
Choudhary and others were attached; an additional ₹3.01 crore in alleged proceeds has now been identified.
The additional assets were provisionally attached on 7 May 2025 and confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority on 9 October 2025 .
The ED says its investigation is ongoing and further proceeds of crime may still be traced.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Patna Zonal Office, has filed a supplementary prosecution complaint before the Special Court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with an alleged procurement scam at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). The case involves the irregular purchase of medicines, medical equipment, and other supplies during financial years 2008–09 and 2009–10, and is estimated to have caused a loss of approximately ₹12.63 crore to the state exchequer.
Key Developments
The supplementary complaint was filed on 6 July 2026 and names Om Prakash Pandey, proprietor of M/s Balajee Enterprises, among others. It serves as a continuation of the original prosecution complaint filed by the ED on 28 April 2022. The trial in connection with the earlier complaint is currently underway before the Special Court.
The ED's money laundering investigation was initiated on the basis of an FIR and a charge sheet filed by the Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB), Patna, against the then PMCH Superintendent O.P. Choudhary and other accused under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
What the Investigation Found
According to the ED, PMCH officials allegedly conspired with multiple suppliers to procure medicines, chemical reagents, medical equipment, and machines at prices exceeding those prescribed by the State Health Society and the State Drug Controller. The agency further alleges that these items were purchased in quantities far beyond actual requirements, compounding the financial irregularity.
The ED had earlier attached movable and immovable assets worth approximately ₹3.14 crore belonging to Om Prakash Choudhary, Vinod Kumar Singh, Ganesh Prasad Singh, Amit Kumar Dhandhania, Bimal Dalmia, and their family members, alleging these represented proceeds of crime.
Additional Assets Traced
During further investigation, the agency identified additional alleged proceeds of crime worth approximately ₹3.01 crore, purportedly generated by suppliers through inflated pricing and excessive supply of medicines and medical equipment in collusion with PMCH officials. These assets were provisionally attached through an order dated 7 May 2025, and the attachment was subsequently confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority under the PMLA in New Delhi on 9 October 2025.
The supplementary prosecution complaint now seeks confiscation of these additionally attached properties.
What Comes Next
The ED has stated that its investigation remains ongoing, with further efforts underway to trace any remaining proceeds of crime linked to the alleged scam. All allegations made by the agency will ultimately be tested during the judicial process before the Special Court under the PMLA. This case is a reminder of the long institutional tail of procurement irregularities in public health infrastructure — a pattern that enforcement agencies have flagged repeatedly across states.
Point of View
Underlining the glacial pace of PMLA proceedings. More troubling is the pattern: inflated pricing and over-procurement in a government hospital meant resources meant for patients were allegedly siphoned off. Bihar's health infrastructure remains under strain, and cases like this raise pointed questions about whether procurement oversight has structurally improved in the intervening decade and a half.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PMCH procurement scam that the ED is investigating?
The PMCH procurement scam refers to alleged irregularities in the purchase of medicines, medical equipment, and supplies at Patna Medical College and Hospital during financial years 2008–09 and 2009–10. PMCH officials allegedly colluded with suppliers to buy goods at inflated prices and in excess quantities, causing an estimated loss of ₹12.63 crore to the state exchequer.
Why has the ED filed a supplementary charge sheet now?
The ED filed the supplementary prosecution complaint on 6 July 2026 after identifying additional alleged proceeds of crime worth approximately ₹3.01 crore during further investigation. The new complaint seeks confiscation of these freshly attached assets and adds Om Prakash Pandey of M/s Balajee Enterprises as an accused.
Who are the accused named in the PMCH ED case?
Key individuals named across the original and supplementary complaints include the then PMCH Superintendent O.P. Choudhary, Om Prakash Pandey (proprietor of M/s Balajee Enterprises), Vinod Kumar Singh, Ganesh Prasad Singh, Amit Kumar Dhandhania, Bimal Dalmia, and their family members.
What assets has the ED attached in this case?
The ED has attached assets worth approximately ₹3.14 crore belonging to the original accused, and has now provisionally attached an additional ₹3.01 crore in alleged proceeds of crime. The additional attachment, ordered on 7 May 2025, was confirmed by the PMLA Adjudicating Authority in New Delhi on 9 October 2025.
What happens next in the PMCH money laundering case?
The supplementary complaint will be heard before the Special Court under the PMLA, which will test all allegations during the judicial process. The ED has stated that its investigation is ongoing and that further proceeds of crime linked to the scam may still be traced.
