The CBI probe into multi-crore National Rural Health scam has hit a roadblock after the investigators provided by the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government to assist the agency developed cold feet and have begun moving back to their normal duties in the state police.
Sources said, “Six investigators, provided of the UP government, recently expressed their inability to assist the agency in NRHM probe. They have gone back to their normal duties in state police. Only two investigators of the state government are assisting the agency sleuths in NRHM probe, they added.
The UP government had provided it’s two deputy superintendent of police (DySPs), one assistant superintendent of police and five inspectors to the CBI for assisting the agency in NRHM probe.
“The CBI, which is facing a severe staff crunch, had sought the help of UP government to complete the NRHM scam probe by lending its state police investigating officers. The agency is also taking assistance of a senior income-tax department official and charted accountants (CAs) to probe certain illegal and dubious financial transactions related to the scam, sources added. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also probing NRHM scam,” sources said.
The CBI has now intensified its probe into the NRHM scam, sources said, adding the CBI will soon register at least 14 more cases related to the scam. The CBI has so far registered total 18 cases in the NRHM scam.
“The pace of investigation will be adversely affected If UP government does not provide sufficient number of investigators to the CBI. The CBI will soon write to the UP government in this regard,” sources said.
Meanwhile, the CBI, which is also probing alleged irregularities in the appointment of around 100 Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) under NRHM in the state, has decided to question certain retired bureaucrats of UP. “The role of two retired bureaucrats is under the scanner of the CBI in connection with the appointment of 100 CMOs in the state,” sources said.