05-10-2008, 09:49 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Ramadoss linked to vaccine scam </b>
Pioneer.com
J Gopikrishnan | New Delhi
Helped Chennai firm get Rs 14-cr bank loan, banned vaccine production by PSUs
A Chennai-based private company, owned by a close associate of Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, was granted a Rs 14-crore bank loan for starting production of vaccines just two weeks before the Health Ministry banned vaccine production by three Central public sector undertakings (PSUs). Â
Ramadoss ordered the closure of vaccine production by three PSUs citing a June 2007 WHO report, which claimed that these units were using redundant technology. BCG Vaccine Lab (Chennai), Pasteur Institute (Coonoor) and Central Research Institute of Kasauli were asked to close down production on January 22. Incidentally, the private company -- Green Signal Bio Pharma -- received Rs 14 crore as loan from Union Bank of India, Chennai, for starting production of vaccines on December 27, 2007.
As bank guarantee, the private company hypothecated its vials and other products, for which it had entered into a supply contract with BCG Vaccine Lab, Chennai, a PSU under Health Ministry. This shows that the PSU facilitated procurement of the loan for a private competitor.
It is well known in Tamil Nadu's political circles that Ramadoss and the Green Signal Bio Pharma owners are close. The company's chairman and managing director, P Sundaraparipooranan, is a politician-turned-businessman. The company was registered in November 2005 but it decided to get into vaccine production only in December 2007, when Ramadoss banned the three Central PSUs.
Before Sundaraparipoornan's meteoric rise, he was a small-time office bearer in the PMK. A couple of scandals earned him good moolah, some limelight and close ties with the PMK's powers-that-be. He had faced charges of irregularity in supplying equipment to the Madurai Meenakshi Medical College and getting no-objection certificate (NOC) for educational institutes in Tamil Nadu. Sundaraparipoornan is a close associate of Ramadoss and his brother-in-law MK Vishnuprasad, a Congress MLA.
Dr N Elangeshwaran, the then director of two vaccine-making PSUs -- BCG Vaccine Laboratory, Chennai, and Pasteur Research Institute, Coonoor -- executed Ramadoss' wish to shut down vaccine production at these undertakings. His wife E Shanti is a major share holder in Vatsan Bio Pharma, which is also co-owned by Sundaraparipoornan and his wife. This company, formed in January 2006, is also a relatively new entrant in vaccine-making industry.
Elangeswaran, currently working as senior specialist (microbiology) in Central Government Health Services, Chennai, is also facing a CBI investigation into his alleged role in recruitment process. The Pioneer's investigation also establishes Elangeswaran's role in setting up the private vaccine factory of Green Signal Bio Pharma while serving as the head of the two vaccine-making PSUs. The Pioneer has copies of e-mails through which Green signal Bio Pharma consulted him about installing equipment and deciding the factory's layout.
Trade unions leaders and several others who protested against Ramadoss' decision to ban vaccine production by the PSUs allege that the Health Minister deliberately ignored the WHO's offer for assistance to upgrade the technology at the PSUs. These three PSUs were producing 90% of the total vaccines in the country.
<b>Wrong dose</b>
Union Health Ministry lets Green Signal Bio Pharma, a Chennai-based private firm, receive Rs 14 crore as loan from Union Bank of India, Chennai, for starting production of vaccines on December 27, 2007
Three PSUs -- BCG Vaccine Lab (Chennai), Pasteur Institute (Coonoor) and CRI (Kasauli) told to close down production on January 22
Cosy relations between Ramadoss and Green Signal Bio Pharma owners an open secret in TN political circles. The company was registered in November 2005, but decided to get into vaccine production only in December 2007
TU leaders, who opposed Ramadoss' decision to ban vaccine production, allege that the Health Minister purposefully ignored WHO offer for assistance to upgrade technology there. The PSUs were producing 90% of the nation's total vaccine output
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is beginning of Mr. fool's saga.
Pioneer.com
J Gopikrishnan | New Delhi
Helped Chennai firm get Rs 14-cr bank loan, banned vaccine production by PSUs
A Chennai-based private company, owned by a close associate of Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, was granted a Rs 14-crore bank loan for starting production of vaccines just two weeks before the Health Ministry banned vaccine production by three Central public sector undertakings (PSUs). Â
Ramadoss ordered the closure of vaccine production by three PSUs citing a June 2007 WHO report, which claimed that these units were using redundant technology. BCG Vaccine Lab (Chennai), Pasteur Institute (Coonoor) and Central Research Institute of Kasauli were asked to close down production on January 22. Incidentally, the private company -- Green Signal Bio Pharma -- received Rs 14 crore as loan from Union Bank of India, Chennai, for starting production of vaccines on December 27, 2007.
As bank guarantee, the private company hypothecated its vials and other products, for which it had entered into a supply contract with BCG Vaccine Lab, Chennai, a PSU under Health Ministry. This shows that the PSU facilitated procurement of the loan for a private competitor.
It is well known in Tamil Nadu's political circles that Ramadoss and the Green Signal Bio Pharma owners are close. The company's chairman and managing director, P Sundaraparipooranan, is a politician-turned-businessman. The company was registered in November 2005 but it decided to get into vaccine production only in December 2007, when Ramadoss banned the three Central PSUs.
Before Sundaraparipoornan's meteoric rise, he was a small-time office bearer in the PMK. A couple of scandals earned him good moolah, some limelight and close ties with the PMK's powers-that-be. He had faced charges of irregularity in supplying equipment to the Madurai Meenakshi Medical College and getting no-objection certificate (NOC) for educational institutes in Tamil Nadu. Sundaraparipoornan is a close associate of Ramadoss and his brother-in-law MK Vishnuprasad, a Congress MLA.
Dr N Elangeshwaran, the then director of two vaccine-making PSUs -- BCG Vaccine Laboratory, Chennai, and Pasteur Research Institute, Coonoor -- executed Ramadoss' wish to shut down vaccine production at these undertakings. His wife E Shanti is a major share holder in Vatsan Bio Pharma, which is also co-owned by Sundaraparipoornan and his wife. This company, formed in January 2006, is also a relatively new entrant in vaccine-making industry.
Elangeswaran, currently working as senior specialist (microbiology) in Central Government Health Services, Chennai, is also facing a CBI investigation into his alleged role in recruitment process. The Pioneer's investigation also establishes Elangeswaran's role in setting up the private vaccine factory of Green Signal Bio Pharma while serving as the head of the two vaccine-making PSUs. The Pioneer has copies of e-mails through which Green signal Bio Pharma consulted him about installing equipment and deciding the factory's layout.
Trade unions leaders and several others who protested against Ramadoss' decision to ban vaccine production by the PSUs allege that the Health Minister deliberately ignored the WHO's offer for assistance to upgrade the technology at the PSUs. These three PSUs were producing 90% of the total vaccines in the country.
<b>Wrong dose</b>
Union Health Ministry lets Green Signal Bio Pharma, a Chennai-based private firm, receive Rs 14 crore as loan from Union Bank of India, Chennai, for starting production of vaccines on December 27, 2007
Three PSUs -- BCG Vaccine Lab (Chennai), Pasteur Institute (Coonoor) and CRI (Kasauli) told to close down production on January 22
Cosy relations between Ramadoss and Green Signal Bio Pharma owners an open secret in TN political circles. The company was registered in November 2005, but decided to get into vaccine production only in December 2007
TU leaders, who opposed Ramadoss' decision to ban vaccine production, allege that the Health Minister purposefully ignored WHO offer for assistance to upgrade technology there. The PSUs were producing 90% of the nation's total vaccine output
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is beginning of Mr. fool's saga.