CBI conducts sweeping raids in NRHM scam

The Central Bureau of Investigation conducted a fresh round of raids across Uttar Pradesh through Friday in connection with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam, involving the embezzlement of central funds meant for the scheme.

Some 30 sites across the state were searched, including in the cities of Lucknow, Varanasi, Ghaziabad, Kanpur, Jhansi, Meerut, Behraich and Balia. Most of these premises belonged to chief medical officers (CMOs) and deputy CMOs of various districts as well as shops of drug suppliers.

Four fresh cases were registered by the CBI on Friday in connection with the alleged misappropriation of funds for the NRHM scheme by CMOs in collusion with drug suppliers to procure sub-standard medicines at exorbitant rates.

The CBI has found in its preliminary enquiry that the mission directorate for the NRHM in Uttar Pradesh had received thousands of crores of rupees in funds between 2005-11 for running schemes like Mission Flexipool, immunisation, reproductive child health, the National Blindness Control Programme, etc; but most of these funds had found their way into private pockets.

According to reports, a CBI team raided the house and godowns of a contractor, Mahendra Pandey, in Varanasi, while another team raided the places of a supplier, Rajan Srivastava, in the Shivpur area of the city.

The NHRM scam has proved a major platform for the opposition Congress Party in fighting the state elections, due to end on 3 March, against incumbent Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party.