Ranchi, Aug 31 - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Monday conducted searches at the residences of health department officials in Jharkhand, including former state health secretary Pradeep Kumar.

The CBI conducted searches at 13 places in Ranchi, Hazaribagh and Daltanganj, informed sources said. Pradeep Kumar's houses in Ranchi as well as Daltanganj came under the scanner of the investigating agency.

Pradeep Kumar, who was Jharkhand health secretary till June, is presently on long leave.

He was suspended Aug 25 following CBI searches at his residences.

The houses of two health department officials and those of two contractors were also searched by the agency, the sources said.