Raids, four new cases in NRHM scam

The CBI registered four fresh cases and raided 35 places in 22 districts of Uttar Pradesh on Friday in connection with the Rs 10,000-crore National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam.

The CBI registered four fresh cases and raided 35 places in 22 districts of Uttar Pradesh on Friday in connection with the Rs 10,000-crore National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam.

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The searches were still continuing till late evening. Friday’s development takes the number of cases registered so far to 12.

“The residences and offices/clinics of chief medical officers (CMOs), former CMOs, government doctors, health and family welfare department employees, medicine suppliers and contractors were searched in Lucknow, Varanasi, Bahraich, Balia and Meerut,” said Javeed Ahmed, joint director of the CBI, in Lucknow.

In New Delhi CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra said, “The allegations are of gross irregularities and manipulation in award of contracts by CMOs to various private parties.”

The scam has claimed two CMOs and a deputy CMO, who were murdered, and others, who allegedly committed suicide. The agency has named politicians and bureaucrats, including former minister Babu Singh Kushwaha, who was sacked, and former family welfare secretary Pradeep Shukla.