A Special CBI Court in Lucknow has sentenced Dr. Ramesh Chandra Sharma, the former Regional Ayurvedic & Unani Officer (RAUO) of Banda, Uttar Pradesh, to three years of imprisonment along with a fine of ₹1 lakh in connection with the infamous Ayurved Scam.
Background of the Case
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered the case on August 6, 1996, following an order from the Allahabad High Court on July 10, 1996. The investigation uncovered a large-scale financial fraud involving bogus grants and illegal procurements within the Ayurvedic and Unani departments in Uttar Pradesh.
According to the charges, Dr. Shivraj Singh, the then Director of Ayurved and Unani Services in UP, had a sanctioned budget of ₹3.94 crore under specific expenditure heads. However, in collaboration with various District Ayurved and Unani Officers (DAUOs), fraudulent grant letters amounting to ₹46 crore were issued. These bogus allotment letters were then used to demand additional budgetary grants. The funds were misused to purchase medicines, medical equipment, and other supplies without actual demand, and at highly inflated prices. The purchases were allegedly made without proper tenders, resulting in a significant financial loss to the government.
CBI Investigation and Court Proceedings
Following an extensive investigation, the CBI filed an initial chargesheet along with 33 supplementary chargesheets against multiple accused individuals. One of these supplementary chargesheets (CC No. 8/1998), filed on January 14, 1998, specifically named Dr. Ramesh Chandra Sharma and five others.
During the trial, five of the accused mentioned in the chargesheet passed away, leading to the case against them being abated. However, the court found Dr. Sharma guilty and pronounced the sentence on him.
Final Verdict
The court sentenced Dr. Ramesh Chandra Sharma to three years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh for his role in the scam. This verdict marks a significant development in the long-standing investigation into the Ayurved Scam and reinforces the accountability of officials involved in financial irregularities within government departments.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of financial transparency and ethical conduct in public service.