AAP’s mohalla clinics under CBI scrutiny

New Delhi: The CBI was examining records related to the Aam Aadmi Party government’s ambitious mohalla clinics project based on a complaint of irregularities, in connection with which several doctors and mid-ranking officials of the Health Department have been questioned, officials said on Monday.

The agency said the investigation was part of a preliminary enquiry registered by it on the charges of alleged irregularities in sanctioning of mohalla clinics (primary healthcare centres) in various colonies, they said.

The CBI has recently questioned a chief medical officer (CMO) and some doctors who are in-charge of clinics, they said. The preliminary enquiry was registered on the recommendation of former lieutenant-governor of Delhi, Najeeb Jung, in 2016, they said.

The agency officials denied Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s claim that it had collected three lakh documents related to mohalla clinics.

They said they were examining records and statement of suspects who were asked to join the probe. The agency officials said it cannot force someone for questioning during the preliminary enquiry stage. Mr Kejriwal has alleged that the CBI had started investigating mohalla clinics, summoning various officials.

 He also alleged that the Delhi government’s officials were being “harassed” and “abused openly” for working in the AAP government.

Mr Kejriwal said that the investigating agency and the Anti-Corruption Branch have registered 14 cases against the AAP ministers and their relatives ever since the ruling party assumed office in February 2015, but there hasn’t been an arrest in even one case.