Karti Chidambaram is one of those named by the CBI in the 2010 Rajasthan ambulance scam.
The CBI has taken over the case from the police, in which allegations of irregularities have been made in awarding a contract to a company, Ziqitza Health Care, for plying the ambulance services across the state in 2010.
“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… Never was a shareholder… Kirit Somaiya, who made the allegations, has been sued by the company,” said Karti Chidambaram.
Among those named by CBI for having links with the company are, former chief minister, Ashok Gehlot, former Union minister Sachin Pilot, son of former Union minister Vayalar Ravi, Ravi Krishna, director of Ziqitza Health Care, Sweta Mangal, and the then state health minister, Duru Mirza.
The agency had also carried out searches at the company’s offices in Jaipur and Mumbai yesterday.
Karti Chidambaram said, “It is pertinent to note that Ziqitza is a company wherein reputed international and Indian Funds have invested- Acumen Fund, Emergency Medical Services Corporation, HDFC, IDFC to name a few. These funds also take an active part in the Board of the Company.”
The case was initially filed by the Jaipur police in June last year, a few months after Vasundhara Raje took over as the Chief Minister of the BJP government in December, 2013.
The ambulance service of 108 in the state was set up by the previous government led by Ms Raje between the years, 2003 – 2008. The BJP had alleged irregularities in the service during the election campaign of 2013, and had said that they would take action if voted to power.
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