Vigilance books ex-Cong MLA, 2 former CMOs in Balrampur NRHM scam

Lucknow: The Vigilance Establishment has registered an FIR against former Congress MLA Mukesh Srivastava, two former chief medical officers (CMOs) and six others for alleged corruption and financial irregularities in National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) works in Balrampur.Those named include ex-CMOs Dr Ghanshyam Singh and Dr Satyadev, former medical superintendent Dr Praveen Kumar, senior assistant Ajay Kumar Srivastava, junior assistant Poonam Singh, junior engineer Ram Manorath Maurya and contractor Rajendra Prasad Srivastava of RP Group.The FIR, lodged by the Lucknow sector of Vigilance after a detailed probe, alleges the accused conspired to siphon off public funds by clearing payments for incomplete or non-existent works. Investigators flagged collusion between officials and contractors to bypass verification and inflate bills.The inquiry, ordered by the state in 2021, examined transactions between 2017-18 and 2021-22 and found a private firm was paid in full despite partial execution of works between 2014 and 2019. Funds were also allegedly drawn for three vehicles under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram, while only one was in use.Officials are further accused of bypassing tender norms in procurement and printing work, and clearing medical reimbursement claims without records in return for alleged bribes of 10-25%.Former CMO Dr Ghanshyam Singh faces specific allegations of authorising payments for three vehicles while only one was in operation and approving printing work without inviting tenders.Dr Ghanshyam Singh, Dr Satyadev and Dr Praveen Kumar have also been accused of irregularities in the processing of medical reimbursement claims.Senior assistant Ajay Kumar Srivastava and junior assistant Poonam Singh have been named as co-accused in the same matter. Several of the accused, including Dr Ghanshyam Singh, Dr Satyadev, Dr Praveen Kumar and junior engineer Ram Manorath Maurya, have since retired from service.Srivastava was earlier arrested by CBI in the wider NRHM scam. The probe is ongoing to assess losses and fix individual roles.