Four years later, Kushwaha walks free

GHAZIABAD: Babu Singh Kushwaha, accused in the multi-crore-rupee National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam, finally walked out of Dasna Jail on Friday after around four years. His release came after a special CBI court granted him bail on Thursday.
"The bail was granted by CBI special judge G Sree Devi on a bail bond of Rs 50 lakh each in three cases and Rs 75 lakh in one of the cases," public prosecutor B K Singh said, adding, "The court also asked for two witnesses with Rs 50,000 each in all four cases." The bail bond needs to be deposited within a month.
Jubilant supporters gathered outside Dasna Jail, where Kushwaha was lodged since March 3, 2012, shouting slogans and beating drums. "It is a great joy for all of us that Babu Singh ji will finally come out of jail," said Radha Mohan, a supporter.
Earlier in November last year, the Supreme Court came down heavily on the CBI for delay in examining witnesses in the case. The court had given the CBI three months to examine the witnesses.
The NRHM scam broke out in 2012 where it was alleged that huge sums of money were siphoned off by politicians, bureaucrats and doctors from the funds. Kushwaha, a close aide of then chief minister Mayawati, was health minister and was at the centre of the scam.