NRHM scam returns to haunt BSP ahead of assembly polls

The multi-crore National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam has returned to haunt BSP chief Mayawati ahead of 2017 assembly election.

CBI court special judge in Ghaziabad has issued a nonbailable warrant against Anant Kumar Mishra, a powerful minister in the erstwhile Mayawati government, in connection with the scam and fixed September 23 as the next date of hearing.

CBI had filed a charge sheet in the court against Mishra and his parents on July 21.

Anant Kumar Mishra, who held the rank of health minister then, is a relative of BSP national general secretary SC Mishra. He has been entrusted with the task of wooing the Brahmin community in support of the BSP in the coming election.

The NRHM scam had turned out to be a major embarrassment for Mayawati before the 2012 assembly elections after the CBI arrested her close aide and the then family welfare minister Babu Singh Kushwaha, giving rival political parties an opportunity to attack Mayawati.

The scam is considered to be one of the main reasons for the rout of BSP in 2012 assembly election.

In its charge sheet against Mishra, the CBI has stated that he was health minister from 2007-11 and Mahendra Pandey and Guddu Khan alias Raees Alam Siddiqui worked as conduits for him in supply of medicine and equipment to CMOs.

Mishra reportedly also abused his official position in posting of CMOs in various districts and got pecuniary benefits in return which approximately amounted to `15-20 lakh per CMO through Mahendra Pandey and the medicine supplier.

While Mishra acquired huge illegal assets, the CMOs misappropriated NRHM funds after getting postings. The CMOs told the CBI that Mishra forced them to place purchase order of medicines to the company run by Mahendra Pandey.

The charge sheet said that the minister’s parents, DC Mishra and Bimla Mishra, abetted the criminal activities of their son by purchasing various properties in their names.

CBI told the court that Mishra and his parents had committed offences under section 109 IPC r/w 13 (1) (d) and section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

HT tried to contact Anant Kumar Mishra but he was not available for comments.