File Photo: BSP chief and Rajya Sabha Member Mayawati (Press Trust of India)
CBI will soon be examining former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati in connection with alleged swindling of funds in the implementation of centrally funded National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam.
Her former cabinet colleague Babu Singh Kushwaha has been in jail since 2012 for his role in the scam which spanned across various departments of the agency and involved multiple crores.
CBI sources said BSP chief Mayawati who was at the helm of affairs in UP during 2007-12 during which NRHM misappropriation is alleged will be called for questioning in connection with the case. She will be examined soon to unearth the larger conspiracy of the Rs 10,000 scam, the sources said.
The sources said the agency needs clarification on funding of some projects under NRHM in which some top officials including the then Principal Secretary, Health, Pradeep Shukla has been charged by the agency. They suspect that the Chief Minister played a key role in appointing health officials in various districts of the state.
It has been alleged that huge sum has been siphoned off by politicians, bureaucrats and doctors from the funds meant for the NRHM, a central government scheme meant to provide health care facilities to people in rural areas.
As many as five persons had died or were allegedly murdered in an attempt to cover up the large-scale irregularities in the case.
Babu Singh Kushwaha, a former UP cabinet minister during the Bahujan Samaj Party rule, was arrested on March 3, 2012 and is still languishing in jail. He recently moved to the Supreme Cour seeking bail, which was dismissed on February 13, with the court saying the allegations against him were very "serious" and it was a "good case for dismissal".
The NRHM scam cases are being investigated by the CBI which has submitted charge sheet against the accused persons.
So far CBI has filed 74 cases filed charges in more than 40 of them in which trial is on,