NHRM scam: CBI registers four cases

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday registered four cases in connection with irregularities in National Rural Health Mission scam in UP.

The CBI, after conducting preliminary inquiry, found gross irregularities and manipulation in awarding of contracts by Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) to various private parties.

It was discovered that there was a group of private parties which were active in number of UP districts and had procured huge contracts through their influence on public servants.
 
The first case relates to criminal irregularities in contracts awarded by the then CMOs of districts of Khushinagar, Gorakhpur, Deoria and Maharajganj. The contracts were awarded to a group of eight private firms mainly based in Lucknow at exorbitant rates causing substantial loss to the government exchequer.
 
 The second case relates to irregularities in contracts awarded by the then CMOs of districts Varanasi. Ghazipur, Jaunpur and Chandauli. The contracts were awarded to group of seven private firms mainly based at Varanasi and Lucknow at exorbitant rates causing substantial loss to the government exchequer.
 
The third case relates to alleged irregularities in contracts awarded by the then CMOs of districts Sharawasti, Baharaich, Gonda and Balrampur. The contracts were awarded to group of five private firms mainly based at Lucknow and Bahraich at exorbitant rates.
 
 The fourth case relates to contracts awarded by the then CMOs of Meerut, Baharaich, Ballia, Gorakhpur, Siddharth Nagar and Kanpur districts. The contracts were awarded to two private firms mainly based at Meerut at high prices.

In all the four cases, CBI found evidence that these contracts were awarded at exorbitant rates causing huge loss to government and the contracts were awarded to provide undue gain to the private parties.
 
CBI also carried out searches at 30 places across various UP cities including Lucknow, Varanasi, Meerut, Behraich and Balia on Friday.
 
The investigative agencies after inquiry found that the drugs and equipment supplied by these firms were at higher rates and even of sub-standard quality.

The funds under the said scheme were channeled to the respective District Health Societies of all the districts in Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) and were utilized by the respective CMOs.