Ranchi, Sep 30 : Even though a month has passed since the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided the house of senior IAS official and ex-health secretary Pradeep Kumar in a Rs. 1.35 billion scam, the state government has yet to suspend him.

"The process has been initiated to suspend Kumar," a senior government official told IANS.

On Aug 31, the CBI raided Kumar's house as he was allegedly involved in a scam in the state's health department. The CBI had seized investment documents worth at least Rs. 72 lakh (Rs. 7.2 million) from his possession.

Kumar was charged with having misused his official position and "fraudulently and dishonestly" purchasing medicines, medical equipment and appliances for hospitals from 19 suppliers worth over Rs. 1.35 billion under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in 2008 and 2009.

Kumar was health secretary till June this year and was shifted to another department in July.

The delay in Kumar's suspension is a hot topic of discussion among the Jharkhand bureaucracy. Senior IAS officials are surprised over the delay in suspension. "Prima facie, there is a clear cut case against Kumar. He should not only be suspended but should be arrested in the scam," said a senior IAS official on the condition of anonymity.(IANS)