Bengaluru: Close on heels of alleging irregularities in National Health Mission scheme, former corporator N.R Ramesh on Saturday claimed that officials of the state government’s Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) have embezzled Rs 400 crore in the last four years.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Ramesh said the officials of SAST, which was set up six years ago to aid the poor, have looted government’s money by producing fake bills and demanded a CBI probe.
He said, “The executive director of the Trust, Dr P. Boregowda, has created fake bills of people who are not even alive or had not taken any treatment under SAST scheme. As many as 131 private hospitals are registered with SAST and Boregowda is now trying to destroy evidence.”
Citing some examples, he said fake bills to the tune of Rs 5 crore were created at Karnataka Cancer Hospital in Nandini Layout and Patil Nursing Home.
The BJP leader alleged that although the matter was brought to the notice of former health minister U.T. Khader, no action was taken as much of the evidence has been destroyed.
He said, “Mr Khader had demanded white paper with regard to the SAST’s funds, when reports of irregularities were brought to his notice. However, even before action could be taken, evidences were destroyed.”
Ramesh highlighted that as per the state government’s rules, when a party is in power, government records and evidences must not be destroyed. However, flouting all norms, tenders were floated to destroy evidences, he asserted.
