The CBI probe into the multi-crore National Rural Health Mission scam in Uttar Pradesh has revealed that former principal health secretary Pradeep Shukla allegedly played a key role in finalising contracts (worth `100 crores) of modernising operation theatres and air-conditioning system in several district hospitals in the state under the Centrally-sponsored programme.
According to sources, the role of a former managing director of UP Processing and Construction Cooperative Federation Ltd is also under the scanner. Sources said, “Probe by the agency has revealed that Pradeep Shukla, in connivance with a former MD of PACCFED, allegedly awarded contracts to a Ghaziabad-based company for modernising operation theatres and air-conditioning system in several district hospitals in the state.” The CBI Thursday arrested Shukla for his alleged role in the scam. “Probe has revealed that a senior employee of the Nehru Yuva Kendra was allegedly working as a conduit of Shukla. The agency officials have already recovered seven property documents worth `5 crore from the possession of the employee,” sources said. The probe has revealed Shukla was working through a number of middlemen with one being employee of NYK in Lucknow, sources said.
The agency sleuths already recovered documents of a commercial property (worth `1.2 crore) owned by Shukla during recent searches, they added.
Sources further said, “The agency sleuths also suspect that Pradeep Shukla, in connivance with the then MD of construction and design services of UP Jal Nigam, Bhukesh Kumar, allegedly finalised at least four contracts related to the NRHM. The agency sleuths recently conducted searches at the residence of Bhukesh Kumar which led to recovery of `3.5 lakh cash and one locker.” Shukla has been named in four cases registered by the CBI in the NRHM scam.