Patna, Sept. 11: Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi today accused former chief minister Nitish Kumar of committing financial irregularities in the construction of the health department offices and residential quarters.

Citing the report of accountant-general (audit), Modi said Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Limited awarded the construction work to single bidders for building offices and residences for district project managers, medical officers and nurses and drug warehouses.

“After drug and equipment scam, now it is construction scam. All these scams occurred when Nitish was the chief minister who held health portfolio too with him. All the construction work, which was awarded by the corporation to single bidder, caused an estimated loss of Rs 4.78 crore to Rs 8.62 crore to the state’s exchequer. We demand a CBI probe into the messy affairs of the corporation,” Modi said.

The Bihar government constituted the corporation in 2010 for executing the purchase of medicines and equipment for government hospitals.

It also constructs buildings for offices and residential purposes for medical officers, nurses, district project manager, drug warehouse etc.

“The corporation started functioning in 2013 and bids for supply of medicines were invited both by it and the State Health Society, Bihar, so that no disruption occurred in supply of medicines,” said an official of the corporation.

It allegedly purchased medicines at much higher rate than quoted by the same company to the society.

The corporation also allegedly purchased medicines from blacklisted companies.

Stating that the government hospitals are facing shortage of medicines, Modi questioned the state government for hesitating in handing over the matter to the CBI for thorough investigation.