The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday registered a case of alleged irregularities against a galaxy of top Congress leaders in the award of an ambulance service contract to Ziqitza Healthcare by the Rajasthan government in 2010.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had asked for a CBI probe on it last year. Those named as accused include the former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot as well as three directors of the company, (at the time when the irregularities had been alleged) Rajasthan PCC chief Sachin Pilot, former Union Minister P. Chidambaram’s son Karthi Chidambaram, and Congress MP Vayalar Ravi’s son, Ravi Krishna, according to the CBI.
The CBI has alleged that technical specifications in the contract were tweaked to favour the company and therefore, its then directors, Mr. Karti Chidambaram, Mr. Pilot, Mr. Krishna and Ms. Sweta Mangal who have been named as accused in the case along with the former Chief Minister Duru Miya got undue favours.
The former National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) Director has also been named. The CBI also revealed that not only were excess bills furnished by the company but that financial irregularities to the tune of Rs. 2.56 crore had come to light.
The Rajasthan Police had registered the case on a complaint filed by former Jaipur Mayor Pankaj Joshi.
“BJP leader Kirit Somaiya had initially lodged a complaint with former Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad alleging discrepancies in the award of the contract to Ziqitza Healthcare in 2010 to run GPS-fitted ambulances in Rajasthan. Mr. Azad ordered an audit into the issue,” said a CBI official.
