CBI unearths money trail in NRHM scam

CBI sources said relatives of former Minister Babu Singh Kushwaha and the then MLA Ram Prasad Jaiswal were holding senior positions in the firms which were allegedly set by their associates for routing the money.

They said while wife of Kushwaha was made director in two companies which are under the agency's scanner. Jaiswal, his wife and sons were directors in at least 10 such companies.

CBI sources said money was allegedly collected by Jaiswal from various contractors which was delivered in Kolkata through the services of his Kanpur-based accountant.

The money, which was allegedly received by the relatives of Kushwaha and Jaiswal in Kolkata, was again routed in the state through fake accounts and shell companies created there for the purpose, they said.

This money was again routed in the companies in Uttar Pradesh in which relatives of Kushwaha and Jaiswal were either directors or at senior positions.

The agency has zeroed in on at least 12 such companies for alleged routing of spoils from National Rural Health Mission funds.

CBI sources said that they have found that Kushwaha, Jaiswal and former Principal Secretary Pradeep Shukla allegedly played a crucial role in finalising contracts related to the NRHM programme in the state.

CBI has named Kushwaha and Jaiswal as accused in the case relating to upgradation of 134 district hospitals for an amount of Rs 13.4 crore by Construction and Design Service, a unit of UP Jal Nigam, whereas Shukla has been named in three cases registered by the CBI in the NRHM scam.