Ex-principal secy may be arrested

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE LUCKNOW i JANUARY 14 SENIOR IAS officer and former state Principal Secretary (Health) Pradip Shukla is likely to be booked in the cases of financial irregularities in NRHM. The CBI already has recorded statement of Shukla over his alleged role behind the irregularities. CBI sources confirmed that Shukla is being held accused on the basis of some documents collected during the investigation and the statements of former Directors General of Health & Family Welfare Dr SP Ram and Dr RR Bharti. Besides,the superintendents of district hospitals and the community and primary health centres (CHCs & PHCs) of Lucknow also have spoken about Shukla’s role behind the loss caused to government exchequer in NRHM contracts,the sources added. The sources said Shukla could not provide any document in his favour to corroborate that he had made any effort to stop irregularities in awarding contracts for procurement or purchase of medicine and medical equipment and publicity materials at rates which were five times more than the prevailing market. Dr SP Ram,who was arrested in the cases related to irregularities in procurement of medicines and medical equipment and publicity material,told the CBI officials that Shukla had played key role in awarding contracts to Saurabh Jain’s firms and getting the payments released without verifying the quality and quantity of purchases.