CBI today conducted searches at 60 places, including the residence of former UP Family Welfare Minister Babu Singh Kushwaha in Lucknow to probe alleged irregularities in the 10,000 crore rupees funds allocated under the National Rural Health Mission, NRHM. Besides Lucknow, the places where the searches were carried out included Delhi, Kanpur, Noida, Moradabad, Sonipat, Amethi and Ghazhiabad. According to an official press release issued in New Delhi today, the CBI carried out searches after registering five cases on January 2. Mr. Kushwaha has been named as an accused with 50 others including government officials in FIRs registered against the NRHM officials and private companies. They have been charged with criminal misconduct and abuse of office. Mr. Kushwaha was sacked from Bahujan Samaj Party in November last year and joined BJP yesterday.

AIR Correspondent reports that the CBI has been investigating the case after a direction from the Allahabad High Court in November last year. The case relates to alleged financial irregularities in the supply of medicines and medical equipment under the NRHM scheme which was meant to be implemented by 72 Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) and other nodal officers across the state. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has allocated nearly 10,000 crore rupees to Uttar Pradesh since the scheme came into being in 2005.
The CBI is also probing the murders of two CMOs and a Deputy CMO which are allegedly linked to the scam. It has already questioned Mr. Kushwaha in connection with these murders.