The Allahabad High Court has provided interim relief to Dr. Anil Kumar Shukla, the former Chief Medical Officer of Uttar Pradesh, by staying ongoing prosecution proceedings in three cases linked to the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). These cases, pending before a Special Judge of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Ghaziabad, involve allegations of irregularities in the procurement of medicines and equipment between 2007 and 2009, which reportedly caused a loss to the government. The court, led by Justice Rajeev Singh, directed the CBI to submit its reply by the first week of May. Dr. Shukla's legal counsel argued that there was no substantial evidence against him and emphasized his age of approximately 73 years, suggesting that he faced undue harassment. The CBI opposed the plea, stating that a discharge application was still pending in the trial court. However, the court rejected this objection, highlighting the significant delay in proceedings and discrepancies in the chargesheets, which could impact the defense.