CBI conducts fresh raids in 23 places in Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow, Feb.25 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted fresh raids at 23 places across Uttar Pradesh on Saturday in connection with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam.

Reports said raids were conducted in Lucknow, Varanasi, Ghaziabad, Kanpur, Jhansi and Meerut.

The residences of chief medical officers and deputy chief medical officers were also being raided, the CBI said.

Earlier, four fresh cases were registered by the CBI in connection with alleged embezzlement of funds under NRHM scheme.

Cases were filed against former chief medical officers and private drug suppliers, who were charged with procuring sub-standard medicines at exorbitant rates.

Searches were conducted across 30 locations in 22 districts of Uttar Pradesh including Lucknow, Varanasi, Meerut, Bahraich and Balia, CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra said on Friday.

There are allegations are of gross irregularities and manipulation in the award of contracts by chief medical officers to various private parties.

CBI has found in its preliminary enquiry that Mission Directorate of NRHM in Uttar Pradesh had received thousand of crores of rupees as funds between 2005-11 for running schemes like Mission Flexipool, Immunisation, Reproductive Child Health (RCH), National Blindness Control Programme etc.

Besides funds for civil construction and upgradation of hospitals were also received by them.

The funds were channelled through district health societies and utilised by chief medical officers and their deputies, besides family welfare officers. (ANI)