CBI carries out searches in ambulance scam

CBI today carried out searches at the residential premises of incumbent directors of Ziqitza Health Care Limited against which a case of alleged cheating was registered by the agency on the recommendation of BJP-ruled Rajasthan government.

CBI sources said the houses of present directors of the company Sweta Mangal, Naresh Jain and Ravi Krishna were searched.

"The FIR was registered against the then Directors of the private firm at Mumbai/Jaipur and others including public servants under section 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery), 468, 471 and 120-B of IPC on the allegations of irregularities in the award of tender in favour of the said firm by deliberately inserting technical specifications and irregularities in the implementation of the project which included excess bills claimed by said firm and paid to them," CBI spokesperson said.

The FIR registered by the state government has named former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and alleged Directors of the company Pilot, Karthi (son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram), Ravi Krishna (son of former Union Minister Vayalar Ravi), Ziqitza Health Care, its Director Sweta Mangal, the then Health Minister of the state Duru Mirza and the Director National Rural Health Mission, CBI sources said.

All the persons named in the FIR have denied allegations levelled by CBI terming the case to be of "political vendetta" by the government.

Pilot has said he had resigned from the company in late 2002 or early 2003 (before he became MP) when it decided to become a "for profit" company from the "non-profit" venture as he was associated with it only for social cause.

"I was an independent non-executive director of Ziqitza only till February 24, 2012. I had never been involved in the administration of the company", Karthi, son of former Union Minister P. Chidambaram, said.

"Many international funds have invested in the company and are represented in the board. Kirit Somaiya, who made the allegations, has been sued by the company," he said.

Gehlot also charged that the case was politically motivated and an attempt by Raje government to divert attention of people," he said.