LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Vigilance Establishment on Wednesday arrested former Congress MLA from Payagpur in Bahraich, Mukesh Srivastava alias Gyanendra Pratap Srivastava, who is alleged to be the kingpin of the multi-crore National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam, in a disproportionate assets (DA) case.The arrest was made by the Vigilance Establishment’s Intelligence/CI Sector team in connection with Case Crime No. 11/2023, registered at the Lucknow Sector police station under Sections 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018, officials said.According to the investigation, Srivastava allegedly amassed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income during his tenure as MLA between March 6, 2012, and March 11, 2017. Investigators said the acquisition of such assets constitutes a cognisable offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act.The Vigilance report stated that Srivastava earned Rs 1.12 crore from legitimate sources but spent Rs 1.79 crore during the period under scrutiny. As a result, his expenditure was found to be 59.74 per cent higher than his known sources of income.“When Vigilance sought an answer from Mukesh Srivastava in this regard, he could not give any satisfactory answer. After this, with the permission of the government, a case under the sections of Prevention of Corruption Act was registered and a probe commenced,” said an officer privy to the investigation.Mukesh Srivastava, who was a Congress MLA from Payagpur, joined the Samajwadi Party in 2016 when he and his wife, Pooja Srivastava, were facing a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe in the multi-crore NRHM scam.During the NRHM investigation in 2014, Mukesh Srivastava and his wife were declared absconders, and notices relating to their non-bailable warrants (NBWs) were pasted outside their residence by the CBI.Officials said the former legislator is also being investigated in three additional vigilance cases linked to alleged irregularities in NRHM-related works across multiple districts. Detailed questioning has been carried out and evidence collection is underway.One of the cases, FIR No. 07/2026, registered at the Lucknow Sector police station, includes charges under Sections 420, 166 and 120-B of the IPC, along with Sections 7, 8 and 13(1)(a) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.The FIR names Srivastava and others and relates to alleged large-scale irregularities in NRHM activities in Shravasti between 2017-18 and 2021-22. Investigators suspect serious financial and administrative violations in the implementation of health projects.Another case, FIR No. 08/2026, registered at the Lucknow Sector police station, invokes Sections 166, 120-B, 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC, along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.The probe points to alleged irregularities in NRHM works in Balrampur district between 2017-18 and 2021-22, including allegations of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and the use of forged documents in project execution and fund utilisation.Srivastava is also an accused in FIR No. 08/2025, registered at the Vigilance Establishment’s Ayodhya Sector police station under Sections 120-B and 409 of the IPC, and Sections 7 and 13(1)(a) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.This case relates to alleged large-scale irregularities and criminal breach of trust in NRHM works in Gonda district.Vigilance officials said legal proceedings are underway in all the cases. Agencies continue to collect documentary and financial evidence while examining the alleged role of the former MLA and others linked to the projects.
