Both Thakur and Gupta have, however, denied any irregularity in the case. Thakur said that pharmacy´s term was extended based on the earlier agreement, which allows extension after increasing the lease amount by ten percent. Chairman Gupat said that a meeting of HDC decided to extend the pharmacy´s term in due process.
A hospital source insist that Thakur and Gupta were allegedly paid over 5 million rupees under the table by Janasewa Pharmacy for the extension of its license agreement for two more years without an open bidding. [break]
The pharmacy was selected through an open bidding four years ago and was provided with the license to operate inside the hospital premise for 2, 75,000 rupees monthly rent.
The source added that Gupta and Thakur extended the pharmacy´s license on their own discretion even without organizing HDC meeting.
As per the agreement four years ago, Janasewa Pharmacy´s license to operate inside the premise expired on June 29.
However, the source claimed that Gupta and Thakur had agreed to extend the terms after bargaining was settled at 5 million rupees.
The pharmacy run by Siva Gyawali, Bishu Khanal , Bijaya Khanal and Ganesh Pathak had managed to bag the tender to operate inside the hospital premise quoting low rate due to the favor from UCPN-Maoist central committee member Ram Prasad Banjade, the source added.
The pharmacy had won the bid at 2,75,000 rupees monthly rent as the Banjade with the help of Maoist activists barred other bidders to compete.
According to Laxman Thapa, another pharmacist, he had tried to submit the bid quoting Rs 650,000 monthly rent but Banajde and his accomplices manhandled him, barring him from registering the bid document.
“I had also submitted a complaint to the District Administration Office regarding the incident but no action was taken” said Thapa.
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