Audit reveals ₹93.32 lakh fraud at Kanpur college

An audit at GSVM Medical College in Kanpur has uncovered financial irregularities amounting to ₹93.32 lakh. The audit, conducted by the accountant general, looked into the college’s finances from 2020 to 2023. It found issues with fraudulent patient admissions and inflated payments for biomedical waste disposal. The audit revealed that hospital beds were falsely recorded as occupied to exaggerate expenses. Additionally, a contract for biomedical waste disposal was given to a private firm at ₹30.42 per unit, which is higher than what nearby Jhansi Medical College paid for similar services. While Jhansi renegotiated its rate to ₹35.80 per unit in 2023, GSVM Medical College increased its rate to ₹41.17 per unit without proper justification. Dr. Sanjay Kala, the principal of GSVM Medical College, stated that the contract was signed before he began his tenure in 2022. He explained that the updated state waste management guidelines cannot be applied to contracts signed earlier. Payments to the waste disposal company have been held up following the audit's findings. If the audit approves, the payment may be released; otherwise, it will go back to the government. The auditors also pointed out issues with missing vehicle logbooks that are necessary for confirming waste transportation. The contractor has not provided these records despite multiple requests, leading to further delays in payments. The firm claims its contract followed the original terms from 2019 and denies any wrongdoing. The AG's office has requested detailed explanations about the rate increases and procedural issues.