Ranchi, Aug. 31: Cash and assets valued in crores were seized by CBI sleuths from the residences of former state health secretary and IAS official Pradeep Kumar, reproductive and child health(RCH) care officer Vijay Shanker Narayan Singh, two suppliers — Shyamal Chakraborty and Amit Chakraborty _ and chartered accountant Naresh Kejriwal today.
Also part of the search operations by the CBI that’s investigating a Rs 130 crore scam in medical purchases, was Dharmenda Kumar Dheeraj, a contractor.
Sources pointed out that the raids, which began as early as 5.30am today, continued till late evening. The investigating team found fixed deposit receipts worth Rs 60 lakh from the residence of Kumar, while investment documents worth Rs 56 lakh were found from Kejriwal’s office at GEL Church Complex.
Another Rs 36 lakh and documents of property worth Rs 1.16 crore were seized from the possession of contractor Dharmenda Kumar Dheeraj’s residence at Circular Road, Ranchi. The CBI also found three houses registered in his name — in Delhi, in Udaipur and Ranchi. Besides, he had also bought a plot in Sukurhuttu from the IAS Housing Co-operative Society.
The CBI also searched the medicine store of the health department and found a huge variation in the stock and the records.
CBI superintendent (SP) R.C. Choudhary confirmed the raids but refused to divulge any other detail. A CBI source, however, said that the recovery of the assets of Kumar and his associates was only the tip of the iceberg.
Kumar is the second IAS official to be raided by the CBI since Governor K. Sankaranarayanan assumed office on July 26.
On August 3, CBI had conducted raids at the Ranchi and Bokaro residences of former officer on duty and 1993 batch IAS officer Avinash Kumar, private secretary to former governor Rajesh Thakur and a contractor Sanjeev Singh, alias, Guddu Singh. The IAS officer was later suspended.
A CBI press communiqué issued late this evening said a case had been registered against former health secretary Kumar, an officer of the 1991 batch of Jharkhand cadre, presently functioning as secretary, institutional finance, state RCH officer Singh and three unknown persons for abuse of their official position and irregularities in purchases under National Rural Health Mission.
A second case for owning disproportionate assets was likely to be lodged against them tomorrow, sources said.
The FIR alleged that the public servants in criminal conspiracy with contractors and suppliers abused their official position and fraudulently and dishonestly purchased medicines, medical equipment/appliances and sundry items used in hospitals from 19 suppliers.
The value of purchases — over Rs 130.50 crore — were made without assessing the actual requirement of the state and without observing the formalities prescribed in this regard.
Searches were being conducted at 14 places, across the state and other cities.
Kumar had proceeded on long leave a day after the CBI raided the residential premises of Avinash Kumar on August 3. Following it, the governor entrusted JSEB member Shivendu with additional charge of the health department.
The former health secretary had been in trouble over allegations of corruption and misuse of his official position after Shivendu stumbled upon a huge scam in the purchase of medicines and recommended a high-level probe in the matter.