In an unexpected turn of events, the Samajwadi Party has now alleged that BSP president and former chief minister Mayawati was also involved in the multi-crore NRHM scam that took place in UP in her regime.
UP health and family welfare minister Ahmed Hasan, on Monday, said, “The role of Ms Mayawati in the multi-crore NRHM scam should also be scrutinised. In the beginning of her regime, she headed the health and family welfare department and should also be brought under the purview of current investigations into the scam.”
The UP health minister further said that the final decision in this regard should be taken by the CBI which is probing the case. “It is the CBI that has to decide what is to be done because the scam got murkier with the deaths of three medical officers and it is highly improbable that the BSP ministers could have swindled so much money without the knowledge of the chief minister,” he said.
The Samajwadi government’s demand comes three days after senior IAS officer Pradeep Shukla was arrested in connection with the scam by the CBI.
The IAS officer was named in the first case registered in NRHM scam in which it was alleged that officials of Uttar Pradesh health department entered into criminal conspiracy with officers of UP Processing and Construction Cooperative Federation Ltd. (PACCFED) and directors of three private firms based at Moradabad and Gajraula (all of UP).
Meanwhile, in a separate interaction with reporters, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav said, “The CBI is interrogating all those who are suspected to be involved in the case and the truth will come out soon.”
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Court gives Tiwari two-day deadline
RIDHIMA MALHOTRA
NEW DELHI, MAY 14
The Delhi high court on Monday directed veteran Congress leader N.D. Tiwari to not leave the country until he provides his blood sample to conduct a DNA test for determining the paternity suit filed by a man who claims to be his biological son.
Justice Reva Khetarpal also directed 86-year-old Mr Tiwari, a former governor of Andhra Pradesh, to inform it within two days if he wants to voluntarily give his blood sample for the DNA test, as otherwise the police would have to forcefully obtain it in the wake of previous orders of the Delhi high court and the Supreme Court.
Mr Tiwari, who has also been chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, was earlier directed by the high court and the apex court to furnish his blood sample for the DNA test to determine if Rohit Shekhar, who filed the paternity suit against him four years ago, is his biological son or not.
In a recent ruling, the high court had said that if he does not voluntarily give his blood sample for the medical test, then the police may obtain it using force. The court rejected the plea of Mr Tiwari’s counsel that a week’s time be granted to him.