A special court dealing with the cases of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has denied bail to Indian Administrative Service officer Niraj K. Pawan, an accused in the National Rural Health Mission scam, on the ground of seriousness of charges against him. The court observed that granting bail at this stage would affect the investigation.
The charge-sheet in the case, relating to alleged irregularities in NRHM during Mr. Pawan’s tenure as the Additional Mission Director, is yet to be filed. Besides Mr. Pawan, Rajasthan Administrative Service officer Anil Agrawal, alleged middleman Ajit Soni, accountant Deepa Gupta and storekeeper Joji Varghese were also arrested.
Ground for bail
Mr. Pawan had moved the bail application on the ground that similarly placed accused were earlier given bail by the court. However, the court dismissed his bail plea on Wednesday.
The ACB has accused the 2003 batch IAS officer of accepting illegal gratification of Rs.1.5 crore as commission for work orders worth Rs.7 crore issued by NRHM during his tenure.
Arguing the case on behalf of the ACB, special public prosecutor Bhanwar Singh Chauhan said the Supreme Court had compared corruption with “economic terrorism”, while Mr. Pawan had been charged with accepting commission through an agent in awarding tenders for works.
