Kanpur: The cardiologist from Uttar Pradesh Medical Sciences University, Saifai, who was arrested on Tuesday for implanting sub-standard pacemakers in heart patients, was lured by high commission and promise of a sponsored foreign trip, said the chief medical superintendent of the UP Medical Sciences University, Saifai, Dr Adesh Kumar, who had lodged complaint in the case. During investigations, it came to the fore that non-MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), cheap quality pacemakers were used in the treatment of heart patients by Dr Sameer Sarraf, said Kumar, explaining that MRI and non-MRI pacemakers are implanted to increase the heartbeat of patients.MRI pacemaker costs around Rs 1.25 lakh to Rs 1.45 lakh a piece, while non-MRI cost Rs 70,000-85,000 and during investigation it came to the fore that Sarraf had replaced regular MRI pacemakers with cheap non-MRI ones by putting a sticker of the former on them to make undue profit, said the CMS.Sarraf had supplied non-MRI pacemakers to patients at a price several times higher than the actual price charged by the university. After a patient covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme complained to the university administration about the anomaly, the university authorities constituted an inquiry committee, which found corruption and irregularities in the system.During investigation, it came to the fore that between 2017 and 2019, Sarraf had implanted pacemaker in nearly 250 heart patients, many of whom developed complications and died. An investigation began against Sarraf and others in February 2022, following which, he was suspended.The university administration had constituted a state level investigation team of experts including then registrar of university, Suresh Chand Sharma, and then chief medical superintendent Dr Adesh Kumar. The CMS had then sent a letter to the police on Dec 24, 2022 and the matter was investigated by then PGI police post in charge and sub-inspector K K Yadav and a case was registered.It was also alleged that despite about one and a half years worth of stock being available for the Cath Lab of the university, Sarraf and others involved had bought items worth about Rs 1 crore unnecessary in 2019. He was also accused of taking several unauthorised foreign trips, sponsored by the companies from which the supply of medical goods was purchased at the expense of the university.Then police station in charge Mohammad Tariq had registered the case and handed over the investigation to the jurisdictional office.Circle officer Nagendra Chaubey carried out the investigation and found several anomalies. After obtaining permission of the health department DGMA, Sarraf was arrested.Etawah SSP Sanjay Varma said: After arrest, Sarraf has been taken to Lucknow on Wednesday, where he was produced before the court that deals with cases lodged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

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