NRHM scam: SC notice to CBI on bail plea of ex-UP Minister

New Delhi, May 18

The Supreme Court today issued notices to the CBI on the bail plea of former UP Cabinet Minister Babu Singh Kushwaha who is in jail since March 3, 2012 in the multi-crore National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam case.

A vacation Bench of justices A K Sikri and U U Lalit sought response from the CBI and fixed the plea of Kushwaha for hearing on June 8.

Senior advocate Nidesh Gupta, appearing for the politician, said the accused has been in prison for quite a long time and charges have also been framed in the case.

On February 13, the apex court had dismissed Kushwaha’s bail plea, saying the allegations against him were very “serious” and it was a “good case for dismissal”.

The Bench, however, had allowed Kushwaha to move lower court for bail if the trial does not commence within six months.

In July last year, the former Minister had approached the apex court challenging the Allahabad High Court order rejecting his bail plea in the scam which had taken place during the previous Bahujan Samaj Party government headed by Mayawati.

The case is being investigated by the CBI which has submitted a chargesheet against the accused. The trial is going on in a CBI court at Ghaziabad. — PTI