Kushwaha invented layers of camouflage for bribe money: CBI

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has unearthed details of Rs 40 crore taken as ‘illegal gratification’ by Babu Singh Kushwaha, family welfare minister during the Mayawati-led government in Uttar Pradesh. Filing the first charge sheet against Kushwaha and former Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) MLA RP Jaiswal at the CBI designated court at Ghaziabad on Thursday, the CBI alleged that the former health minister had invented ingenuous ways to multi-layer the ‘gratification’ money. Both Kushwaha and Jaiswal are in judicial custody for alleged involvement in the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam. “The money used to go through several companies located in West Bengal, Mumbai and Patna before reaching Kushwaha, his wife and relatives and Jaiswal in firms and trusts owned by them. Kushwaha used to camouflage the ‘gratification’ money as donation or business transaction,’’ a senior CBI officials told Firstpost.[caption id=“attachment_327983” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“In CBI net. Image courtesy ibnlive”]  [/caption] The agency’s search for more ‘illegal gratification’ money has not yet ended. It has trailed only Rs 320 crore spent in various medical welfare schemes under NRHM so far. It is yet to go after over Rs 9,000 crore disbursed in the five years between 2007 and 2012 in the state. Kushwaha was the most trusted cabinet colleague of former Chief Minister Maywati during the period. The charge sheet filed against Kushwaha alleges that he had invented ‘paper’ companies, most of which had addresses in Kolkata, Mumbai and Patna. Investigation revealed that the same addresses were furnished for several non-existing companies. “These companies have not done business worth a single paisa since they came into existence. Only huge money was transferred from one company to another to camouflage the ‘bribe’ money,” the CBI official said. Kushwaha, the CBI official said, had done his best to confuse the corruption trail. In some cases, Kushwaha sold off equity shares of these ‘paper’ companies at inflated rates. A Rs 10 equity share was sold off for Rs 1,000! And in other cases, these companies were shown paying heavy donation to trusts, such as Bhagwat Prasad Education Trust, named after Kushwaha’s father. The CBI has documented that these companies actually don’t exist. The agency has investigated two cases of construction of modular operation theatres (involving Rs 249 crore), installation of ROs and related civil works in 132 district hospitals (Rs 23 crore), upgradation of 134 health sub centres (Rs 13.4 crore), purchase of computers (Rs 9 crore), two cases of providing medical kits (Rs 38 crore) outdoor NRHM publicity (Rs 14 crore). Over 13 persons have been arrested so far. Kushwaha also allegedly routed ‘bribe’ money through Moradabad-based businessman Saurabh Jain, one of his closest aides. Jain is believed to have received the lion’s share in this loot. He supplied medical kits for child delivery worth Rs 32 crore. These medical kits were supposed to be highly sophisticated and sanitised, consisting of burn gel, antimicrobial wipes, syringes, wound closure kit, antibiotic ointment, respiratory mask etc. But Jain, also in judicial custody, used to buy these medical kits from the Delhi’s Sadar Bazar. Kushwaha has invested most of Rs 40 crore ‘bribe’ money in construction of a private school and several real estate deals. The CBI, which is still trailing rest of the NRHM money, is likely to file more cases against Kushwaha.