The Uttar Pradesh government has suspended 20 senior health officials after their names cropped up in an ongoing CBI probe into embezzlement of over 10,000 crore rupees of the National Rural Health Mission fund.

State Health Minister Ahmad Hasan said yesterday that those suspended include Additional Chief Medical Officers rank officials. He said, Director General of Health has also been asked to suspend two clerical grade employees. Mr Hasan said, the state government acted swiftly and took stern action following the CBI report.

The UP government is also expected to give prosecution sanction against doctors, whose names figured in the inquiry, next week.