New Delhi: Congressman Luis Miranda and his brother Luis Ricardo Miranda, who raised suspicions about Brazil's vaccine deal with India's Bharat Biotech, arrived at a Senate commission inquiry on Friday wearing a bullet-proof vest for safety.
They are key witnesses in the hearing over alleged wrongdoing in a vaccine contract signed by Brazil's government to procure Covaxin doses in a deal costing1.6 billion reais (USD 323 million).
The parliamentary inquiry is looking into the allegations that the Brazilian government deliberately delayed securing Covid vaccines besides the probe on its handling of the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than half a million people in the country.
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The coordinator of the Senate inquiry called for giving protection to Congressman Luis Miranda and his brother, along with the owners of Precisa Medicamentos company, the Brazillian intermediary for Bharat Biotech.
The government is accused of ignoring vaccine offers from Pfizer Inc that was reportedly quoting a lower price and then striking a speedy agreement with Bharat Biotech. The probe has been launched by federal prosecutors and lawmakers to ascertain the reason behind the contract sealed despite pending regulatory approvals.
Congressman Luis Ricardo Miranda and his brother have stated that they met president Bolsonaro in March and warned him of the suspicious contract, but nothing was done to investigate the deal.
Reuters reports that Miranda, who is the head of imports at the ministry, told senators that he refused to approve an import license because an invoice for a first shipment asked for an up-front payment and was sent by a company not mentioned in the contract, Singapore-based Madison Biotech.
The report adds that Miranda told prosecutors he was pressured by Alex Lial Marinho, an aide to one of Bolsonaro's closest allies, former Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello.
Miranda's brother supported the account.
The controversy has put mounting pressure on President Jair Bolsonaro to explain the deal with Bharat Biotech.
Responding to the allegations, the far-right president maintained that there were no irregularities in the contract. "There is nothing wrong with the Covaxin contract, there is no overpricing," Reuters reported him as saying at a news conference on Friday.
He alleged that his enemies were trying to stain his government with unfounded accusations of corruption. "I am incorruptible," he declared.
The controversy over the Covaxin contract threatens to damage his image of having zero tolerance for corruption in his government.
Meanwhile, Bharat Biotech also issued a statement in that regard: "We strongly refute and deny any kind of allegation or implication of any wrongdoing whatsoever with respect to the supply of COVAXIN." It stated that Madison Biotech is its global sales and marketing unit.
The Indian manufacturer further contended that its vaccine pricing had been consistently USD15-$20 per dose for foreign governments, a range in which the Brazil contract fell.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian government maintains that it has not yet made any payment to Bharat Biotech for Covaxin.