Raipur, Nov 7 - Three people, including the Chhattisgarh health services director, have been arrested on charges of fraud in the purchase of costly medical equipment, police said Saturday.

Director B. S. Sarwa and former health services director D. K. Sen and a storekeeper of the health department were taken into custody Friday from different locations for their alleged role in the purchase of medical equipment such as colour doppler machine in violation of tender rules.

The equipment had been purchased in 2004-06 and 2007. A police compliant was filed in Raipur's Ganj police station alleging that the officials deliberately overlooked rules to favour a Chennai-based company. (IANS)