The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) may soon examine former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati to ascertain whether she had a role in the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam in the state during her tenure.
“Yes, we will soon examine former UP chief minister Mayawati in connection with the larger conspiracy behind the NRHM scam. Major irregularities were detected in our probe in the manner the central scheme’s funds were allegedly mis-utilised and favours were granted,” a source in the CBI told Hindustan Times.
“There are three factors in the alleged larger conspiracy on which we are scrutinising her role and will examine her. We suspect the health department was irregularly bifurcated into health and family welfare departments when she was the chief minister,” the CBI source added.
The NRHM scam is one of the biggest probes taken up by the CBI so far. The central investigating agency has filed 73 first information reports (FIR) while probing the alleged irregularities in the utilisation of Rs 10, 000 crore allocated to Uttar Pradesh under the scheme between 2005 and 2011.
“There were alleged irregularities in the appointment of around 100 district primary health officers during her (Mayawati’s) stint who were connected with irregularities.”
{{/usCountry}}“There were alleged irregularities in the appointment of around 100 district primary health officers during her (Mayawati’s) stint who were connected with irregularities.”
{{/usCountry}}The agency has so far launched 20-plus preliminary enquiries and over 18 charge-sheets in the NHRM scam probe which exposed the misuse of funds meant for upgradation of basic public health infrastructure, including 134 hospitals in 72 districts.
Those under the CBI’s scanner included a former UP health minister and a senior IAS officer who was associated with the scheme’s implementation during 2007-12. The NRHM probe was initiated by the CBI following a 2011 order by the Allahabad high court.
Six deaths between 2010 and 2012 were allegedly linked to the scam as people who reportedly threatened to blow the lid off the mystery were either shot or found murdered in mysterious circumstances.
It has been alleged that a portion of the NRHM funds meant for Uttar Pradesh was siphoned off by politicians, bureaucrats and medical professionals.