NRHM scam: Supreme Court denies bail to ex-UP minister Babu Singh Kushwaha

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court today refused to grant bail to former UP cabinet minister Babu Singh Kushwaha in the multi-crore National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam.

A bench of Justices S J Mukhopadhaya and N V Ramana declined to entertain his plea, saying the allegations against him were very serious.

"We have been pursuaded well. It's a good case for dismissal," the bench said while dismissing the bail application.

During the hearing, the counsel for former minister argued that Kushwaha was undergoing incarceration since March 3, 2012.

"Charges have been framed. Let them examine witnesses," the bench said while allowing Kushwaha to move trial court for bail if trial does not commence within six months.

In July last year, the former minister had approached the apex court challenging the Allahabad High Court order rejecting his bail plea in the scam which had taken place during the previous Bahujan Samaj Party government headed by Mayawati.

The case is being investigated by the CBI which had submitted charge sheet against the accused persons. The trial was going on in a CBI court at Ghaziabad.