Lucknow:
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday conducted raids across 40 locations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi registered three new cases in the National Rural Health Mission Scheme (NRHM) scam.
Tightening its noose around top bureaucrat Pradeep Shukla, ex-Principal Secretary of Family Welfare and the mission director of the scheme, the CBI raided his residence in Lucknow.
Shukla, who was Principal Secretary during the tenure of former minister Babu Singh Kushwaha, has been questioned twice in connection with the case.
CBI teams also carried out raids at the premises of suppliers of medicines and medical equipment in Kanpur, Noida, Ghaziabad and Allahabad.
According to sources, residences of some bureaucrats, traders and politicians are also covered in the operation.
Health officials of the rank of CMO's and deputy CMO's are also being questioned and raided.
The CBI had on January 2 registered five cases against certain government and private sector officials, including one against Kushwaha, alleging loss of about Rs 28 crore in implementing the centrally-sponsored scheme meant for 72 districts of Uttar Pradesh.
NRHM funds to the tune of about Rs 10,000 crore were allocated to UP for the period 2005-06 till date by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.
(With inputs from PTI)