The CBI on Saturday carried out fresh searches 23 locations in Uttar Pradesh in connection with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam. PTI quoting CBI sources said that the searches are being carried out across 12 districts, including Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Meerut, Jhansi, at the residences of health department officials of the state, who had held the posts of Chief Medical Officers (CMO) and Deputy CMOs.

The CBI on Friday registered four fresh cases relating to alleged irregularities in medical supplies in the National Rural Health Mission scam in Uttar Pradesh and carried out searches in 22 districts. Agency teams swooped down on 30 locations, including the medicine market in Aminabad locality in Lucknow, as part of a massive search operation.

With the registration of fresh cases, the CBI has so far registered 12 cases in connection with alleged embezzlement in Central funds allocated under the NRHM. The agency has named several doctors and medicine suppliers under the new set of FIRs.

The CBI action comes days after it questioned former Family Welfare Minister of the state, Babu Singh Kushwaha, who is a prime accused in the scam and his close aide BSP MLA, Ram Prasad Jaiswal.

Meanwhile CBI has detained former Chief Medical Officer Dr. SK Samoriya for interrogation in connection with NRHM scam. AIR Lucknow correspondent reports that Dr. Samoliya was detained from his Lucknow residence on Saturday morning. He has been posted as CMO in Gorakhpur and Kushinagar districts. CBI has also lodged cases against several CMOs and deputy CMO in connection with said scam.