NRHM scam: another U.P. official found dead by Atiq Khan

-PTI

Sunil Verma, Project Manager of the Construction and Design Service (C&DS) of the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam, in the rank of Assistant Engineer, was found dead at his Vikas Nagar residence here on Monday.

His name had figured in the alleged irregularities in the implementation of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) schemes. According to Inspector-General (Crime) G.P. Sharma, Mr. Verma, 55, shot himself with his licensed revolver around 8.30 a.m.

The C&DS is one of the State agencies given contract for implementation of the NRHM programmes.

The CBI, which is probing the scam, had already interrogated Mr. Verma. His residence was recently searched by the sleuths, but he was not arrested, informed sources said.

A “suicide note” was recovered. While the police were silent on its contents, the sources said the deceased owned up responsibility for taking the extreme step. The IG said the body was sent for post-mortem.

Mr. Verma's is the fourth case of an officer either having been murdered or dying in mysterious circumstances in connection with the NRHM scam in the last 18 months. Incidentally, all the cases have been reported from the State capital.

In October 2010, Chief Medical Officer of the Family Welfare Department Vinod Arya was killed near his Gomtinagar residence while on a morning walk. Within six months, another CMO of the same department B.P. Singh was shot dead near his Vikas Nagar residence in April 2011. He was also taking his morning walk when the assassins shot him dead. Deputy CMO of Family Welfare Department Yogendra Singh Sachan, who was arrested in connection with the scam, was found dead in mysterious circumstances in the Lucknow district jail. With the CBI investigating the case, it was yet to be ascertained whether Dr. Sachan was murdered or had committed suicide.

Besides the former Minister, Kushwaha, several top officials, contractors and employees of the agencies responsible for the implementation of the NRHM schemes have been interrogated by the CBI.