CBI begins probe into irregularities in 10,000cr NRHM funds

New Delhi, Nov 20: The CBI has started probe into the alleged irregularities in spending Rs 10,000 crore allocated to Uttar Pradesh as central funds under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), as it registered five preliminary enquiries after orders of Allahabad High Court on November 15.

The agency has constituted a big special investigating team comprising 26 officers, including five Superintendents of Police under the overall supervision of Additional Director, Joint Director and two DIGs.

"The investigation team will be assisted by experts from banking, accountancy, engineering works and computer forensics and officers dealing with NRHM scheme in Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India," a CBI spokesperson said here.

The probe pertains to civil works' contracts and medicine procurement of Family Welfare Directorate, Medical Health Directorate, Director Training, State Health Society, State Innovation in Family Planning and Project Agency (SIFPSA), IEC Bureau, Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, UNOPS and others besides funds allocated to Chief Medical Officers of 72 districts of the state.

The action of the agency comes on the directions of the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court given on two Public Interest Litigations filed before it. "CBI investigation has registered five preliminary enquiries relating to alleged irregularities in the execution and implementation of National Rural Health Mission funds in the State of U.P. since its inception in the year 2005-06 till date," the spokesperson said.

PTI