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Raje recommends CBI probe in Rajasthan's ambulance scam

by IBNS 20 Oct 2014, 11:33 pm

Jaipur, Oct 21 (IBNS): Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe in the 108 ambulance scam in which her predecessor Ashok Gehlot and several other senior Congress leaders were named, media reports said.

The other names allegedly involved in the scam include state party chief Sachin Pilot, former Union finance minister P Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram, Ravi Krishna - the son of former minister Vayalar Ravi and former state health minister Duru Mian.

In June this year, the Rajasthan police had registered a case against all these senior Congress leaders accusing them of cheating and conspiracy, sources said.

The ambulance scam dates back to 2009 when Ziqitza Health Care Limited, a private company run by Ravi Krishna, had got the tender to run 108 ambulances in Rajasthan, Bihar and Punjab. The ambulance service was a public-private partnership as the part of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

It was meant to ensure help for emergency patients.

In March 2012, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had alleged that the company was being paid crores of rupees for ambulance services that existed only on paper.

An audit report done by the Ashok Gehlot government also reportedly found huge financial irregularities in the way the ambulances were operated. The losses were estimated to the tune of Rs. 2.56 crore but no action was taken on the report.