NRHM scam: CBI raids in UP, Gujarat
31 Aug 2012 7:31 AM IST
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has raided at six places in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat in connection with the multi-crore rupees National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam after registering four fresh cases.
According to CBI sources, raids started on Wednesday night at Lucknow, Agra, Ghaziabad, Moradabad in UP and Wapi in Gujarat. Most of the raids were conducted at the residences and offices of the drug and equipment suppliers. ‘Large amount of incriminating documents related to the NRHM scam have been recovered,’ a CBI official said.
Sources said the sleuths were also investigating the role of a drug supplier of Rajasthan, who was given a payment of over Rs 2 crore though he had not supplied any medicine. It is believed a major portion of this money was taken away by the former health minister Babu Singh Kushwaha.
However, more details about the raids were yet to be disclosed by the CBI officials so far. ‘The documents are being studied and people are being questioned. A full picture would emerge only after the completion of raids,’ a CBI official said.
The four FIRs are based on the irregularity in purchase of medicines worth Rs 2.4 crore, misappropriation of Rs 12.5 lakhs meant for building infrastructure in district hospitals and fraudulent receipts meant for PSU pharma companies. In all these cases, the payments were received in personal accounts.
The FIRs have been registered against unknown officials in the office of the DG of Family Welfare and other private persons. The CBI had already registered 14 cases and with these new FIRs, the total number has gone up to 17. The new cases were lodged after the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday rapped the CBI for slow progress in the NRHM probe.
According to CBI sources, raids started on Wednesday night at Lucknow, Agra, Ghaziabad, Moradabad in UP and Wapi in Gujarat. Most of the raids were conducted at the residences and offices of the drug and equipment suppliers. ‘Large amount of incriminating documents related to the NRHM scam have been recovered,’ a CBI official said.
Sources said the sleuths were also investigating the role of a drug supplier of Rajasthan, who was given a payment of over Rs 2 crore though he had not supplied any medicine. It is believed a major portion of this money was taken away by the former health minister Babu Singh Kushwaha.
However, more details about the raids were yet to be disclosed by the CBI officials so far. ‘The documents are being studied and people are being questioned. A full picture would emerge only after the completion of raids,’ a CBI official said.
The four FIRs are based on the irregularity in purchase of medicines worth Rs 2.4 crore, misappropriation of Rs 12.5 lakhs meant for building infrastructure in district hospitals and fraudulent receipts meant for PSU pharma companies. In all these cases, the payments were received in personal accounts.
The FIRs have been registered against unknown officials in the office of the DG of Family Welfare and other private persons. The CBI had already registered 14 cases and with these new FIRs, the total number has gone up to 17. The new cases were lodged after the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday rapped the CBI for slow progress in the NRHM probe.
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