NRHM scam: CBI offered to probe death of UP Health Dept clerk

The CBI had offered to probe the mysterious death of Uttar Pradesh Health Department accountant Mahendra Kumar Sharma, said to be the fifth victim in the NRHM scam since the alleged bungling involving Rs10,000 crore of central funds surfaced a year ago.

Highly placed sources in the agency have said as soon as the 52-year old Sharma's mysterious death came to light, the CBI had written to Uttar Pradesh government offering to investigate the case, if warranted.

In the letter, the agency has said if state government felt necessary, it was ready to probe the mysterious death of Sharma whose body was found at the Pasgawan health centre of Lakhimpur, eight days after he went missing on February seven.

It was on this letter, the state government ordered transfer of the case to the central agency nearly 11 days after Sharma's body was found, they said.

Sharma is said to be the fifth victim in the last one year after the alleged bungling in central funds given under National Rural Health Mission surfaced. It is alleged he was pressurised to pass some bills by his seniors which he had refused.

UP Police had named in the FIR Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr JP Bhargava, Deputy CMO Balbir Singh, Pasgawan Community Health Centre (CHC) incharge Dr S C Gupta and Pasgwan CHC clerks Rajesh Hans, Kuldeep and Munna Lal.

The victim's wife Mithilesh had demanded CBI probe into the matter while alleging that her husband was murdered and suspected five health department officials, including Pasgawan community health centre incharge.