New Delhi/Ranchi, August 31: A senior civil servant of Jharkhand is under the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) scanner for his alleged involvement in a Rs.1.3 billion scam in the state’s health department.
Pradeep Kumar, former Jharkhand health secretary, has been named in the case for misusing his official position and “fraudulently and dishonestly” purchasing medicines, medical equipment and appliances for hospitals from 19 suppliers worth over Rs.130 crore (Rs.1.3 billion), a statement said Monday.
Vijay Shankar Narain Singh, a state Reproductive Child Health officer, also faces a probe for “criminal conspiracy” with Kumar and three other people for making the purchses “without assessing the actual requirement and without observing the codal formalities”, the statement said.
Kumar, a 1991 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Jharkhand cadre, and at present secretary, institutional finance, is on long leave.
“The squandered amount was out of the fund allotted for the (central government sponsored) National Rural Health Mission (NRHM),” the statement said.
The CBI conducted simultaneous searches at 14 places in Jharkhand and New Delhi, including the residences of the accused officials and private suppliers.
An FIR has been registered on the “specific request” of the state government with the approval of the central government.
–Agencies