Two senior officials at the Sir J.J. Metropolitan Government Blood Bank in Mumbai face immediate termination and criminal prosecution after a legislative inquiry found them guilty of alleged blood theft, financial malpractice, and gross negligence, the Maharashtra Legislative Council was informed on Monday, 29 June. The disclosure came during a calling attention motion moved by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC Chitra Wagh, which forced a public reckoning over one of the state's most sensitive public health institutions.

What the Inquiry Found

Minister of State for Public Health Meghna Bordikar told the House that Blood Bank Chief Dr Hitesh Pagare and Medical Social Officer Bhise were found guilty in a preliminary probe. Their services are being terminated with immediate effect, and criminal cases — including a First Information Report (FIR) — will be registered against them.

Bordikar added that if more serious revelations emerge after the FIR is filed, even stricter action will follow.

The Allegations: Blood Bags, Private Banks, and Missing Audits

BJP MLC Chitra Wagh alleged that out of 128 blood bags collected at a blood donation camp in Chinchpokli, 55 bags were transferred to Maya Blood Bank in Badlapur without any prior permission or official record — amounting, she said, to direct theft of government blood.

She further alleged that a private storage centre was granted an unauthorised concession, supplying blood at ₹665 per bag, while private entities reportedly earned between ₹760 and ₹800 per bag — a margin she termed a 'plunder of the state exchequer.'

Wagh also claimed to possess evidence that Dr Pagare owns the private Maya Blood Bank in Badlapur, and that J.J. Blood Bank staff, materials, and vehicles were being deployed there. She alleged that despite being on forced leave, Pagare unauthorisedly demanded the purchase of freezers from a private company.

Additional irregularities she flagged included: absence of barcodes on donor cards, demands for money from underprivileged patients seeking blood, disruptions in supply to thalassaemia and sickle cell patients, no audit of the blood bank in over 10 years, and the absence of full-time officers at the State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC).

Government's Reform Commitments

Minister Bordikar announced a series of corrective measures. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aligned with National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines will be developed, and a QR code-based tracking system will be implemented for every blood bag to ensure transparent monitoring.

A full-time post of Assistant Director will be created for the blood bank. A coordination mechanism will be established to oversee all blood banks statewide, and licences of non-compliant blood banks will be revoked. The government is also considering a third-party audit of all blood banks in the state.

Broader Questions in the House

BJP MLC Shrikant Bharatiya noted that there are currently 417 operational blood banks in Maharashtra and that the state is collecting more blood than required. He questioned why there were discussions about permitting an additional 150 blood banks under these circumstances. Minister Bordikar clarified that no such proposal is currently before the government.

Other members raised concerns that similar malpractices may not be confined to J.J. Hospital alone and demanded a statewide investigation. Bordikar assured the House that regular audits of all state blood banks are conducted and that special inspections will be carried out as required.

With criminal cases now imminent and systemic reforms promised, the spotlight shifts to whether Maharashtra's health administration can enforce accountability beyond a single institution.