Ranchi, Aug 8 (IANS) Former Jharkhand health secretary Pradeep Kumar Monday surrendered in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court here and was sent to 14 days' judicial custody in connection with the National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) financial misappropriation scandal in which medicines and equipment were bought at rates far higher than the market.

The CBI had last week issued orders that his property and that of former health minister Bhanu Pratap Sahi be attached. The Jharkhand High Court had also last week rejected Kumar's anticipatory bail plea.

Sahi had surrendered in the court on Saturday and he was sent to 14 days judicial custody. Another former health secretary, Siyaram Prasad, was arrested by the CBI in May this year in the NRHM scam.

According to CBI officials, the NHRM scam worth Rs.130 crore took place in 2008-2009. There are allegations against Sahi and the former health secretaries that they purchased medicines, vehicles, medical equipment from 19 private firms at rates higher than market prices, causing huge financial losses to the state exchequer.

Sahi and Kumar, who was suspended in 2009 following a CBI raid on his house, had been evading arrest for many months.