The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Mumbai Police has registered a case of corruption against a former director and other officials of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER).

"C P Taware, former director, and other deputy directors of DMER have been accused of corruption and misuse of their official power by favouring the distributor of a city-based pharmaceutical company," Additional Commissioner of Police Niket Kaushik told PTI.

DMER supervises the working of 42 institutions in the state including Medical and Dental Colleges, Teaching Hospitals and Health Units.

According to the ACB, from 2004 to 2007, Taware and the other accused had issued letters to all the institutions directing them to purchase medicines from the company without issuing tenders.

"The DMER officials had purchased drugs worth over Rs two crore in the said period. During audit of the entire purchase, it revealed a loss of Rs 92 lakh to the state government," a senior ACB official said.

Following the submission of a report by the auditor, the state government directed the ACB to initiate an inquiry into the matter.