Ayushman Bharat fraud case: ED searches 19 locations in Himachal, Punjab, Delhi
According to ED, about 19 locations in Shimla, Kangra, Una, Mandi and Kullu in the state apart from Delhi and Chandigarh are being searched since July 30 morning.
Enforcement Directorate. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting searches at 19 locations in Delhi, Chandigarh, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh, in a case related to alleged generation of fake Ayushman Bharat AB-PMJAY ID cards and violation of the scheme against several hospitals, according to an agency official.
In Himachal Pradesh, the searches are being carried out in Kangra, Una, Shimla, Mandi, and Kullu districts.
The case pertains to alleged “generation of fake Ayushman Bharat AB-PMJAY ID cards and violation of the scheme against many hospitals including Bankey Bihari Hospital, Fortis Hospital, etc”.
“Many medical bills have been generated on such fake cards, causing loss to the exchequer and public. Names of R.S. Bali, a Congress MLA from Nagrota, HP, (who is) chairman of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, and the vice-chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Board; and Dr. Rajesh Sharma, Shree Balaji Hospital, Kangra; have also figured in the alleged fraud and their premises are also being searched,” said the official.
The agency’s money-laundering probe initiated on July 16, 2024, is based on a First Information Report registered on January 23, 2023, by the State Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Bureau, Una. Sections 420, 467, 468 & 471 of the Indian Penal Code were invoked against accused Kiran Soni, Shree Banke Bihari Hospital, Una, and others for allegedly generating fake AB-PMJAY ID cards.
According to the ED, apart from Shree Bankey Bihari Hospital, Fortis Hospital, Shri Balaji Hospital, Sood Nursing Home, and Sri Harihar Hospital etc. allegedly got illegal benefits of the AB-PMJAY scheme. “During investigation, as many as 373 fake Ayushman Cards have been identified wherein claims of about ₹40,68,150 were made for reimbursement from the government in the name of treatments given to the said Ayushman Card beneficiaries,” the official said.
The list of such “fake beneficiaries” included that of Rajnish Kumar and Pooja Dhiman, who, on verification, even denied possession or any information of any such PMJAY Card. “Further, they never underwent any such treatment in any of these hospitals. Apart from this, hospitals have made claims for treatments/surgery/admission which were actually never given/done to the patient. One Raksha Devi was denied admission in the hospital; however, the hospital dishonestly and illegally blocked the package of Raksha Devi,” it is alleged.
“Investigation also revealed that these hospitals were de-empanelled from Ayushman Bharat scheme for illegal practices and non-compliance of procedures/guidelines…8,937 Ayushman Bharat golden cards have so far been scrapped in HP (Himachal Pradesh) for alleged violation of the AB-PMJAY scheme. As per investigation conducted so far, the case involves PoC (proceeds of crime) of about ₹25 crore,” the official said.
Mr. Bali is the chairman of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation and the vice-chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Board. “Fortis Hospital, Kangra, is a unit of his company, Himachal Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. This hospital was also de-empanelled along with other above named hospitals,” as alleged.
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