The Vigilance Department has registered an FIR against a former legislator and five others in connection with alleged financial irregularities in medicine procurement, medical equipment purchases, vehicle payments and printing contracts under National Rural Health Mission schemes in Uttar Pradesh’s Shravasti district.
The case follows a government-directed inquiry into expenditure and procurement activities carried out between financial years 2017-18 and 2021-22. Those named in the FIR include former legislator Mukesh Srivastava alias Gyanendra Pratap Srivastava, two former Chief Medical Officers, two former health department employees and the proprietor of a private firm.
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Procurement Procedures Under Scrutiny
According to investigating agencies, preliminary findings suggest that prescribed procurement procedures and financial rules may not have been followed during the purchase of medicines and medical equipment.
The inquiry reportedly identified several transactions and payments whose legitimacy and necessity are now under examination. Investigators are reviewing procurement records, payment documents and related files to determine whether rules were bypassed and whether public funds were misused.
The Vigilance Department is also examining the role of officials who held supervisory responsibilities during the period under review. The investigation report suggests that excessive discretion may have been granted to subordinate officials, creating conditions for alleged procurement and payment-related irregularities.
Vehicle Payments and Contracts Examined
The vigilance probe has also flagged alleged irregularities in vehicle-related expenditures under National Health Mission schemes. Investigators claim that under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram and Supporting Supervision Scheme, payments were allegedly drawn for three vehicles despite indications that only one vehicle was being used.
Authorities believe that if the allegations are substantiated, the payments may have caused financial loss to the public exchequer.
Maintenance and printing contracts have also come under scrutiny. Vigilance officials have alleged that some works were executed without following prescribed procedures, while payments were reportedly released in certain cases despite incomplete execution of projects.
Tendering and Reimbursement Records Being Verified
The probe has raised questions over printing-related expenditures, with authorities alleging that some assignments may have been carried out without following mandatory tendering procedures. Investigators are examining whether competitive bidding requirements were bypassed.
Vigilance officials have also identified alleged deficiencies in the maintenance of medical reimbursement records. The inquiry found that proper reimbursement registers were reportedly not maintained for several years, while vouchers and payment documents showed procedural lapses.
Investigators are now scrutinising tender files, reimbursement claims, procurement documents and financial records to establish the extent of the alleged irregularities. Officials said accountability will be fixed based on documentary evidence and the findings of the ongoing investigation.
