PIL for CBI probe into AIIMS graft aimed to malign govt: Nadda

Union Health Minister J P Nadda today told the Delhi High Court that a PIL seeking CBI probe into various graft cases in AIIMS raised by the ex-CVO of the institution was "actuated by ulterior motive" to gain political mileage and "malign" the government's image.
"The petition portrayed feigned public interest, is in fact, actuated by ulterior motive, is filed for personal gains of certain individuals to gain political mileage and to malign the incumbent government," he submitted before a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw.
The union minister said the petition by NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) was a "mere service dispute" by and on behalf of the ex-Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of AIIMS, Sanjeev Chaturvedi, and is aimed at espousing the purported grievances of with respect to his service.

Nadda, in his reply to the PIL, refuted the allegation that Chaturvedi was removed from the post as he was conducting probe in several corruption cases related to various malpractices in the premier hospital.
He also refuted, as false and frivolous, the allegation that as a result of Chaturvedi's removal, the graft cases involving officials close to the minister are being reviewed and have slowed down.
He said the official was removed because his appointment was illegal and done without any vigilance clearance.

"The answering respondent (Nadda) also deems appropriate at this stage to clarify that all proceedings pending against officers of AIIMS shall be duly enquired into, investigated and taken to the logical conclusion in accordance with law," the affidavit on behalf of Nadda said.

"Again the allegation that certain sensitive corruption cases involving officials reportedly close to respondent 3 (Nadda) are already under review and that investigation in many cases has been slowed down, is absolutely false and frivolous," it said.
In his two-year stint as anti-graft officer at AIIMS, Chaturvedi had successfully completed over 150 investigations in which officials were charged and penalised, the plea has said and added that he was conducting probe in several other corruption cases when he was moved out on the orders of the health minister.