This is the first time that an IAS officer has been booked in the NRHM scam. The three cases involve financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 15 crore.

Shukla’s co-accused are several officials of state PSUs, owners of various firms, and former Congress MLA Ashok Bajpai, who has since joined the BSP.

CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra said one case was registered against Shukla, UP’s former DGs of health & family welfare S P Ram and R R Bharti, PACCFED MD V K Chaudhary and chief engineer M M Tripathi, along with three private firms based at Moradabad and Gajraula.

The officials were reportedly involved in a criminal conspiracy with the directors of the private firms while awarding contracts of maintenance of 89 district hospitals, involving Rs 89 crore. On the basis of payments made so far, the estimated loss caused is Rs 5.89 core.

Another case registered against Shukla, the two former DGs and others is related to contracts of maintenance of 40 district hospitals, awarded on bogus documents. The third case is regarding alleged irregularities in the work of installation of toilets in hospitals.