CBI files three charge sheets in NRHM case

The CBI Thursday filed three charge sheets in three separate cases against five people in connection with alleged irregularities in upgradation of 134 hospitals in Uttar Pradesh under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

The charge sheets were filed in a special CBI court in Ghaziabad.

All the three cases were registered May 28, 2013 under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections related to cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy besides relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

In the first case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed charge sheet against the then chief medical officer (CMO), Agra V.K. Srivastava, the then deputy CMO, Agra Sanjay Kashimala and proprietor of Lucknow-based private pharma firm Sanjay Awasthi.

The case was registered on the allegations of misutilization of a sum of Rs.15.6 lakh under NRHM funds in the purchase of medicines like albendazole and iron-folic acid tablets at exorbitant rates through false and forged quotations even though the medicine was available at cheaper rate and even on rate contract also.

In the second case, the agency again named Srivastava in its charge sheet along with the names of the then pharmacist Subhash Chand Baghel and then official (authorized signatory) of Allahabad-based private company Neeraj Verma.

The case was registered on the allegations of misutilization of a sum of Rs.16.5 lakh under NRHM funds in the purchase of surgical and hospital equipments at exorbitant rates through false and forged quotations even though this equipment were available at cheaper rates.

In the third case, the CBI again named Srivastava and Baghel along with a proprietor of a private company Anil Kumar Saxena.

The case was registered on the allegations of misappropriation of huge amounts to the tune of Rs.3,52,117 by showing false purchase of spectacles under NRHM funds in Agra district on the basis of false and forged quotations even though no such spectacles were purchased. But the supply order was given to the private firm.

The CBI had registered these cases following the Nov 15, 2011 orders of the Allahabad High Court.