The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has initiated an inquiry in the regional branches of the Red Cross Society located in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, and Karnataka after the Union Health Ministry received allegations of corruption and financial irregularities, a senior ministry official said on Monday.
“It has been noted that certain allegations have been marked against Indiian Red Cross Society and regional branches. Ministry would like to clarify that CBI inquiry has been initiated in these cases,” a ministry source said on Monday, adding that it has a zero-tolerance policy against corruption and financial irregularities. In Kerala, a case of misappropriation of funds in 2019 allegedly by the chairman and the vice-chairman led to the national headquarters recommending that the state managing committee be dissolved.
“Now a new managing committee is in place after makeshift committee under the High court judge was made just after dissolution of state committee,” he said.
“Based on a complaint, the matter was reffered to the Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands,” he further said. The ministry source further informed that approval was sought from the National Headquarters (NHQ) in July 2020 to begin a CBI probe under the Prevention of Corruption Act after serious allegations were found in the functioning of the Tamil Nadu branch by the Governor of the state.