MP health scam: IT raids minister's house
Tuesday, June 3, 2008 (Bhopal) Three days after a massive raid on people from the Health Department in Madhya Pradesh, the Income Tax officials are saying that the scam may just be worth several hundred crores.
This expose has come ahead of the Assembly elections later this year.
The state Health Minister has resigned after IT raids on his residence, of his brother and some other high-profile current and former health officials, in connection with the multi-crore health scam.
The minister claims he's innocent and wasn't willing to resign but was told to do so by the BJP high command.
The raids threw up unaccounted for cash and jewellery worth crores.
IT officials claim they've seized diaries that reveal how crores were paid to government officials and politicians.
Former health director Dr Rajesh Rajora, now the Home Secretary has also put in his papers after the raids pointed a finger at him.
''His in laws who are retired have purchased properties, he has opened several companies which bought lot of land. Where did the company get the money from?'' said S S Rana, Dircector General Investigation, IT, Madhya Pradesh.
Last week there were raids at over 50 places in different cities, a follow up to the raids in September last year that had unearthed Rs 1 crore in cash from the residence of health director Dr Yogiraj Sharma.
''According to our estimate, Dr Sharma and group had amassed money over Rs 100 crores,'' said A K Singh, Director Investigation, IT, Madhya Pradesh.
Now there are other questions plaguing the MP government - why did the Chief Minister keep silent for so long?