Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 27
A former Principal Director of the Department of Health and Family Welfare was granted interim pre-arrest bail by the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench in connection with probe into alleged corruption in the erstwhile National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).
A case (004/2014) regarding the matter is pending before the State Crime Police Station, PHQ, Kohima.
During the hearing of the plea for bail, the counsel for the petitioner informed the single-bench judge of Justice Kardak Ete that the application has been filed as an “abundant caution” though the former has been summoned only as a witness under CRPC 160.
The Supreme Court constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) is currently investigating the case and the petitioner has been summoned as a witness, as per the Court proceedings.
During the period under investigation, the applicant was working as the Chief Medical Officer of Phek.
Meanwhile, in the bail application, the counsel pointed out that the applicant was just an administrative head of the concerned district during the period and all NHRM related activities were handled by the Mission Director.
However, as the applicant has good ‘standing in the society,’ the application is made exercising ‘abundant caution,’ the counsel submitted, when queried by the judge as to why the application is made though the summon is only under CRPC 160.
Accordingly, Justice Ete granted the interim anticipatory bail by issuing an order stating: “Pending production of the Case Diary, the applicant, in the event of arrest shall be released on bail on executing bail bond of Rs 20,000...”
It further directed that applicant to appear before the Investigating Officer on July 1 as directed by the summon notice dated June 23.
The applicant shall neither hamper nor tamper the evidence nor leave the jurisdiction of the concerned Police Station, it added, fixing the matter for next hearing on July 20.
It must be noted here that Supreme Court of India (re)constituted the three-member SIT in December 2022 to “look into various allegations including those of rampant corruption prevailing” in the NRHM.
Disposing a special leave petition (SLP) regarding the issue on December 6, the apex court further directed the SIT to submit a supplementary charge-sheet, if “any substance in such allegations is found” during the investigation.
The SIT was tasked to look into all the allegations, including CAG Report and made an endeavour to conclude the further investigation as early as possible and preferably within six months.
The SIT thereafter shall submit its report to the “Court of competent jurisdiction whereupon, the law will take its own course,” stated the order issued by the two-bench judges comprising of Justice Surya Kant and Justice JK Maheshwari.
