Brazil to Suspend $324 Million COVID Vaccine Deal With India's Bharat Biotech

Brazil will suspend the $324 million COVID-vaccine deal with Indian's Bharat Biotech after accusations of irregularities came to light, according to the health minister.

The COVID-vaccine deal was set to buy 20 million doses of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin shot. It has become a problem for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro after whistleblowers went public with claims of irregularities, Aljazeera reported. One health ministry official noted that he alerted the president about his concerns.

In a news conference, Brazil Health Minister Marcelo Quieroga said that his team would look into the allegations during the deal's suspension.

The ministry noted that there were no irregularities in the contract based on the preliminary analysis of the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU). However, the health ministry still chose to suspend the deal for compliance.

Bharat Biotech COVID-Vaccine Deal

Jair Bolsonaro had been accused of turning a blind eye to possible corruption in a deal to purchase coronavirus vaccines, according to an Associated Press News report.

The series of claims threatens his presidency, which includes a move to suggest filing a criminal charge against him.

Luis Ricardo Miranda, the Health Ministry's import division chief, said he faced pressure to approve the import of Indian pharmaceutical Bharat Biotech's Covaxin vaccine.

Miranda noted that there were irregularities in the invoices, specifically the $45 million upfront payment to a Singapore-based company. Miranda, with his brother Luis Miranda, a lawmaker recently allied with Jair Bolsonaro, brought their issues to the president.

The Miranda brothers said that Bolsonaro promised to send the case to the federal police. They also mentioned that a Congress leader in the lower house was involved. The said Congress leader was a top Bolsonaro ally.

Meanwhile, the federal police never received any request to investigate, neither from Bolsonaro nor the Health Ministry, according to a Federal Police source familiar with the matter.

The secretary-general of the presidency, Onyx Lorenzoni, said that Jair Bolsonaro did meet with the Mirandas. However, he claimed that the two presented fraudulent documents. He said Bolsonaro ordered to have the two brothers investigated.

On the other hand, Bharat Biotech has denied any claims of wrongdoing concerning the vaccine supply. They said that the company adheres to the highest standards of compliance.

However, the company's press representative did not comment on the reason behind the payment being routed through a Singapore-based company.

Brazil Health Ministry Official Fired

Jair Bolsonaro has fired a health ministry official who reportedly asked for a bribe in a vaccine deal. Bolsonaro's chief of staff announced that the ministry's logistics head, Roberto Ferreira Dias, has been relieved of his position, The Guardian reported.

Dias had suggested a bribe of one dollar a dose during dinner to discuss a different order of 400 million vaccines, mentioning a representative from a medical supply company.

The health ministry said that Dias leaving the position had been decided on Tuesday morning, June 29. The department, however, did not address the allegations regarding the claims of bribery. Dias has yet to comment on the matter.

WATCH: Covid-19 News: Bharat Biotech Says 'No Wrongdoing' Amid Row Over Brazil Covaxin Deal - From NDTV