CBI to quiz Mayawati to 'unearth larger conspiracy' in NRHM scam case

New Delhi: The heat of CBI probe into the multi-crore National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam has reached the doors of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, who will be examined by the agency soon in connection with alleged corruption in the centrally-funded scheme. [caption id=“attachment_2441326” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Former Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawati. Reuters[/caption] After filing 74 FIRs and 48 chargesheets in the scam, in which the then Minister and Principal Secretary have also been named, the agency has decided to examine Mayawati “to unearth larger conspiracy in the scam”. Sources told NDTV that CBI needs clarification on funding of NRHM projects in which officials including Pradeep Shukla, the then Principal Secretary (Health), has been charged by the agency. The report also said that five people had died or were allegedly murdered in an attempt to cover up the irregularities in the case. CBI sources told PTI that they have got new evidence which makes it necessary to examine the role of the former Chief Minister on two issues — bifurcation of the Health and Family Welfare Department and creation of 100 posts of District Project Officers who were allegedly instrumental in alleged corruption in the implementation of NRHM schemes. Mayawati was the Chief Minister when the Department of Health and Family Welfare was bifurcated. It is alleged that the bifurcation was done so that the NRHM funds could be placed directly under the charge of the Department of Family Welfare which was under Minister Babu Singh Kushwaha - already charged by the agency. Kushwaha was arrested on 3 March, 2012 and is still in jail. “Only those persons were posted as District Project Officers (DPOs), Family Welfare, who allegedly facilitated in award of the contract to the chosen suppliers and in lieu, the accused public servants obtained huge amount of illegal gratification. “In pursuance of the said criminal conspiracy, bifurcation of the health department was proposed and got approved against prescribed norms of NRHM as laid down by government of India,” CBI FIR has alleged. The sources said that the creation of 100 posts of the DPO in the state was done in an irregular manner. Media in-charge of BSP in Lucknow did not offer any immediate comments on the development. CBI sources claimed to have found evidence of alleged corrupt practices in the implementation of NRHM schemes in the state involving the officials of medical and health department in general and the CMOs and DPOs in particular. Between 2005-06 and 2011, the Centre gave Rs 11,080 crore to Uttar Pradesh for the implementation of NRHM schemes out of which Rs 9,133 crore was released for utilisation. The state had spent Rs 8,658 crore of the funds released by the Centre. “It is alleged that in 2009, the then Family Welfare Minister of UP, in order to get a major share of the funds under NRHM through the private suppliers, entered into a criminal conspiracy with the then Principal Secretary, Health, one MLA and four private suppliers and conspired to bifurcate the Department of Health and Family Welfare so that the NRHM funds could be placed directly under the charge of the Department of Family Welfare,” CBI has alleged. It also alleged that the posting of each CMO as DPO Family Welfare was allegedly done after payment of a huge bribe as illegal gratification by the suppliers concerned to the then Minister of Family Welfare through one MLA and other private persons acting as conduit to the then minister. “A part of the share of the bribe was also allegedly received by the then Principal Secretary, Health. The accused persons caused undue gain to the private suppliers and themselves and caused equivalent loss to the government exchequer,” the agency further alleged. (With inputs from PTI)