NRHM scam: CBI raids ex-BSP minister Kushwaha
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided the residence of former family welfare minister of Uttar Pradesh Babu Singh Kushwaha in connection with the financial irregularities in the supply of medicines and medical equipment in the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam on Wednesday.
Kushwaha, a former BSP MLA had joined the BJP on Tuesday.
The CBI also raided the premises of some officials and contractors in connection with the NRHM scam. The raids were being conducted at 60 places in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
Earlier on Tuesday, the CBI had filed FIRs pertaining to the scam. Kushwaha has been named as an accused in one of the five FIRs registered against the NRHM officials and private companies in Uttar Pradesh.
The charges against Kushwaha include those of criminal misconduct and misuse of office in implementing the NRHM scheme as the family welfare minister.
Sources say that an embarrassed BJP is now unlikely to give him a poll ticket. The BJP CEC will meet on Wednesday to finalise 100 tickets in Uttar Pradesh. A section within the BJP had been upset over his induction into the party. The party now says it won't support any corrupt leader.
Babu Singh Kushwaha was a confidante of UP Chief Minister Mayawati. He enjoys clout amongst the Kushwaha community that adds to almost four per cent votes in UP.
He was in-charge of managing the BSP affairs and therefore, could be of crucial importance to the BSP's competitors.
Mayawati is known to have said that in case she was jailed, Kushwaha could be the acting Chief Minister.
The National Rural Health Scheme is a plan to make changes in the healthcare system. The NRHM plan includes hiking public expenditure on health.
Irregularities were reported in the NRHM fund disbursed to Uttar Pradesh in 2011. In November 2011, the Allahabad High Court directed the CBI to conduct an inquiry into the misuse of the NRHM funds in UP.
The CBI has been probing irregularities in funds disbursed to 72 CMOs across UP. The CBI formed a special probe team to investigate the NRHM scam.
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