CBI Court in Lucknow Sentences Former Ayurvedic Officer to 3 Years for Role in Rs. 46 Crore Ayurved Scam
(By Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
In a significant development in the ongoing Ayurved Scam case, the Special Court for CBI cases in Lucknow has sentenced Dr. Ramesh Chandra Sharma, the then Regional Ayurvedic & Unani Officer (RAUO) of Banda, Uttar Pradesh, to three years of imprisonment along with a fine of Rs. 1 lakh. This verdict comes as part of the broader investigation into a large-scale financial fraud that involved the misallocation of government funds meant for the Ayurvedic and Unani departments in Uttar Pradesh.
The case, which dates back to 1996, was registered by the CBI on August 6, 1996, following a directive from the Hon’ble High Court of Allahabad. The investigation revealed a massive conspiracy orchestrated by Dr. Shivraj Singh, the then Director of Ayurved and Unani, Uttar Pradesh, and various District Ayurvedic and Unani Officers (DAUOs) from across the state. The accused allegedly misappropriated government funds by issuing fake grant and allotment letters totaling Rs. 46 crores, far exceeding the originally allotted budget of Rs. 3.94 crore. These false documents enabled the DAUOs to unjustifiably demand additional budget allocations, which were then used to purchase medicines, medical equipment, and other supplies at inflated prices, without any actual need or proper procurement procedures in place.
The fraudulent activities caused a substantial financial loss to the government, with the purchases being made at prices much higher than the prevailing market rates, and without adhering to necessary tendering processes.
As the investigation progressed, the CBI filed a chargesheet on January 14, 1998, against Dr. Sharma and five other accused, all of whom were implicated in the scam. During the course of the trial, five of the accused named in the chargesheet passed away, resulting in the abatement of the case against them. Dr. Sharma, however, stood trial and was found guilty of his involvement in the scam, resulting in the court’s decision to sentence him to prison.
This case marks a significant step in the judicial process to hold accountable those responsible for the embezzlement of public funds and underscores the ongoing efforts to bring transparency to government procurement practices. The CBI continues to pursue justice in connection with this high-profile case, with additional investigations into other individuals involved in the scandal.
