Sunil Verma, a key accused in the multi-crore NRHM scam in UP, allegedly shot himself dead on monday at his residence.This is the fourth mysterious death in the case.

Police said 52-year-old Verma killed himself with his licenced weapon at his Vikas Nagar residence around 8.30 AM. He was rushed to hospital where he was declared dead.

Verma was named in the first FIR filed in the scam relating to upgradation of 134 hospitals across Uttar Pradesh for an amount of Rs.13.4 crores by Construction and Design Services, a unit of UP Jal Nigam in which former state minister Babu Singh Kushwaha also figured.

The CBI had alleged the work was given to a Ghaziabad- based firm on the basis of bogus and forged documents and the construction was of inferior quality causing a loss of Rs.5.46 crore to the exchequer.

Verma, who was National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) Project Manager with the Construction and Design Services, was named in the FIR and searches were conducted at his residence on January 4, this year, the CBI sources said, adding that he was neither questioned in the case nor was he asked to appear for questioning.

He had been under depression after the CBI searches at his residence, family sources said.

This is the fourth mysterious death related to the scam with the murder of two Chief Medical Officers (CMO) and a Deputy CMO, who was found dead inside the jail hospital in UP.