Vigilance to probe alleged irregularities in KMSCL bleaching powder purchase, says Keralam Health Minister

Vigilance to probe alleged irregularities in KMSCL bleaching powder purchase, notes Keralam Health Minister Published – August 19, 2026 09: 29 pm IST.

Key points

• KMSCL had invited an open e-tender in February for procurement of bleaching powder for 2026-27 under a one-year rate contract.
• The Minister has written to the Home Department seeking a Vigilance investigation into the allegations.
• In the light of the new evidence, the earlier enquiry report submitted by the Principal Secretary (Health) cannot be accepted, he remarked.
• According to Muraleedharan, those responsible would be identified and action taken against them.
• Muraleedharan, has already ordered two enquiries involving the KMSCL.

For context, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau will investigate the alleged irregularities in the procurement of bleaching powder by the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited (KMSCL), Health Minister K. Muraleedharan remarked here on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Minister has written to the Home Department seeking a Vigilance investigation into the allegations. As noted by certain sections of the media, he remarked that his decision to seek a VACB investigation follows fresh evidence and allegations of serious irregularities in purchase.

KMSCL had invited an open e-tender in February for procurement of bleaching powder for 2026-27 under a one-year rate contract. The procurement has since come under scrutiny over allegations that the prescribed store-purchase rules and tender procedures were violated, resulting in substantial unnecessary expenditure to the exchequer.

For context, the Minister had on July 7 directed the Principal Secretary (Health), to inquire into allegations that KMSCL's purchase of bleaching powder between March 11 and May 6, 2026, had resulted in an avoidable expenditure of ₹7.32 crore.

For context, the inquiry was additionally intended to ascertain whether the prescribed procurement procedures and tender conditions had been followed by KMSCL, whether the material was purchased at a reasonable rate, and whether the purchase had resulted in any financial loss to the administration.

Meanwhile, the Minister has now taken the stance that the Principal Secretary's report is no longer tenable as media reports have pointed to anomalies which were at variance with the findings in the enquiry report.

Mr. According to Muraleedharan, those responsible would be identified and action taken against them. The funds allegedly squandered from the public exchequer would additionally be recovered from those discovered responsible, he remarked.

It may be recalled that Mr. Muraleedharan, has already ordered two enquiries involving the KMSCL. One of the enquiries are regarding medicines worth ₹50 crore procured by KMSCL. It remained date-expired in KMSCL warehouses. The other enquiry relates to a corporate membership purchased by KMSCL in Trivandrum Tennis Club, by spending ₹19.13 lakh.

For now, vigilance to probe alleged irregularities in KMSCL bleaching powder purchase, says Keralam remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.