Lucknow:
On a day when the Election Commission sounded the poll bugle, the CBI decided to tighten its noose around the Mayawati government.
The investigating agency, which is probing the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) murders that are linked to the multi-crore irregularities in the implementation of Centre's National Rural Health Mission (NHRM), has summoned BSP leader and former health minister of Uttar Pradesh, Anant Mishra.
Mr Mishra was made to step down by Chief Minister Mayawati soon after the murder of two CMOs and one deputy CMO who were in-charge of implementing the multi-crore scheme in Uttar Pradesh.
Sources in the CBI say that Mr Mishra will be questioned in Delhi early next week.
The CBI had, last week, registered five cases relating to alleged bungling in the execution and implementation of the NRHM in Uttar Pradesh, since the inception of the programme in 2005.
The cases were registered on the directions of the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court against two public interest litigations (PILs) filed by a local journalist.
Those in the dock include the director general (family welfare) who was responsible for procurement of medicines and equipment, besides information, education and communication, the director general (medical health) and director (training), State Health Society, State Innovations in Family Planning Services Agency (SIFPSA), the King George Medical University (KGMU), besides funds allocated to chief medical officers of the state's 72 districts.
A special investigation team has been constituted comprising of 26 investigating officers including five Superintendents of Police (SPs) under the overall supervision of Additional Director, Joint Director and two Deputy Inspector Generals of police.
The NRHM funds to the tune of about Rs. 10,000 crore were allocated to the Uttar Pradesh for period 2005-06 till date by the Union Health Ministry.
The funds were spent through 72 CMOs in UP and other nodal offices all over the state under the various schemes approved by the Central government involving a large number of beneficiaries. A number of these works have been executed through several state PSUs and large number of contractors and firms.
(With IANS inputs)