Babu Singh Kushwaha, former family welfare minister of Uttar Pradesh, has told CBI interrogators that the Mayawati-led UP government diverted central funds meant to be spent under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in the state in other programmes, including political activities.
According to sources Mr Kushwaha, who is in CBI custody, claimed NRHM funds were diverted for use in other activities, not covered under the mission guidelines.
“During questioning, Kushwaha claimed that he was not part of the decision making body. All financial decisions, including allocation of funds under the scheme, were taken by the Chief Minister herself”. Mr Kushwaha claimed that funds were diverted for political activities also in certain districts of the state, sources added.
The CBI on Saturday arrested Mr Kushwaha and BSP MLA from Barhaj assembly constituency (Deoria), Ram Prasad Jaiswal in connection with its probe related to the multi-crore NRHM scam in the state. Both were arrested during questioning.
Kushwaha and Jaiswal were close confidants of UP chief minister Mayawati.
“Kushwaha further claimed that certain top bureaucrats of the state also misused NRHM funds. Probe by the agency has revealed that at least four top bureaucrats of the state allegedly used NRHM funds for travelling in air-conditioned taxis. They will soon be called for questioning”, sources said.