Thiruvananthapuram: Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) will investigate the alleged irregularities in the purchase of bleaching powder by Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL), health minister K Muraleedharan said on Wednesday.The minister said he had written to the home minister seeking a vigilance probe into the purchase. The health department had earlier ordered an inquiry by the principal secretary after the allegations surfaced, and the inquiry report was subsequently received.Muraleedharan said the department could not accept the report in view of the media reports on the fresh evidence on irregularities. The matter was therefore handed over to the vigilance for a detailed investigation, he said. Muraleedharan said he has written to home minister Ramesh Chennithala seeking a vigilance probe.The minister had on July 7 directed the principal secretary (health) to inquire into the purchase following reports that the procurement of bleaching powder between March 11 and May 6, 2026, had resulted in an avoidable expenditure of Rs 7.32 crore.Fresh allegations have since emerged that KMSCL violated store purchase rules and that widespread irregularities and a conspiracy were involved in the procurement. It was against this backdrop that the matter was referred to the vigilance, Muraleedharan said.The minister said those responsible would be identified and action taken. Govt would also recover from those responsible any public money found to have been wasted, he said.
