NRHM scam accused official shoots himself dead today

A key official who was under scanner for his role in the National Rural health Mission (NRHM) scam shot himself dead on Monday.

Sunil Verma was project manager of Jal Nigam, which had also received funds as part of NRHM. After a scam was reported in the project, Verma’s role was questioned as he was the official responsible for proper implementation of the scheme.

Verma shot himself dead at his Vikas Nagar residence here today morning at around 8.30 am. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared brought dead.

DIG OF Police, DK Thakur confirmed the sequence of events to a news channel. He said, “Sunil Verma has shot himself dead today morning. His son told us that CBI had interrogated his father on January 4 and he was under stress. His family feels that he committed suicide because of that.”

The CBI had included Verma’s name in the first FIR alongwith Babu Singh Kushwaha and also raided his residence.

Verma’s is the fourth person involved in the NRHM scam to have died under mysterious circumstances.

CBI raids ex-Maya minister over NRHM scam

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on today conducted multiple raids in UP and Delhi in connection with the alleged irregularities in funds allotted to National Rural Health Mission.

As per reports, the central investigation agency has also registered its first FIR in connection with the case.

It is being said that raids are being conducted at 60 places in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh including the residence of BSP MLA Babu Singh Kushwaha, who yesterday joined BJP after he was expelled from his party by Mayawati.

Babu Singh Kushwaha, a former cabinet minister, was till recently Mayawati’s closest confidante.

Kushwaha was dismissed as health and family welfare minister after the CBI found evidence of his involvement in the NRHM scam in which thousands of crores were siphoned off.

After his expulsion from BSP, he was trying to join the Congress. However, Rahul Gandhi is personally said to have blocked his entry into the party.

Embracing Kushwaha is being seen as a sign of BJP’s desperation in the run-up to the assembly polls. The BJP apparently hopes to garner some backward votes in the name of Kushwaha, a backward caste, and also get some cannon fodder from him to attack Mayawati on corruption.

Besides Kushwaha, the BJP has also welcomed three other former BSP ministers into the party fold and even rewarded them with party tickets.

Two of these ministers — Badshah Singh and Awdhesh Verma —were dismissed by Mayawati on charges of corruption, while the third, Daddan Mishra, had resigned after being denied a BSP ticket.