In a significant case of financial misconduct, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Patna has suspended its chief cashier and launched a departmental probe after an internal audit revealed major fund misappropriation.
Audit Uncovers Major Discrepancies
The action was taken on Thursday against chief cashier Anurag Aman. The suspension follows an internal audit conducted by accounts officer Piyush Anand, which brought to light serious irregularities in the institute's financial records.
The audit discovered significant mismatches in several key documents. Discrepancies were found in the cashbook, payment register, receipts, and bank account reconciliation statements. The preliminary probe indicated that numerous cash transactions were executed without supporting documents or proper authorisation, flagging a severe breach of protocol.
Rs 50 Lakh Traced to Stock Market
Sources within the premier medical institute revealed that the detailed audit pointed to approximately Rs 50 lakh that could not be accounted for, raising strong suspicions of embezzlement. It is alleged that the suspended chief cashier invested the misappropriated funds in the stock market.
While the official statement from AIIMS Patna did not specify the exact amount involved, sources confirmed that a major portion of the money has been returned by the employee in question. However, the institute has clarified that the repayment does not impact the ongoing disciplinary process.
Zero-Tolerance Policy and Next Steps
In an official statement, AIIMS Patna emphasized its strict zero-tolerance policy towards any financial misconduct. The institute stated, "The matter has been taken seriously, and disciplinary proceedings have been initiated in accordance with the established rules and procedures."
The statement further added that the case may be referred to the police if required, based on the findings of the ongoing inquiry. AIIMS Patna has assured that patient care services remain completely unaffected by the incident.
In the wake of this episode, the hospital administration has announced plans to tighten its financial procedures and strengthen internal audit mechanisms to prevent such occurrences in the future. The disciplinary action against the chief cashier is set to continue as per the applicable norms and regulations.
