Ahmedabad, December 24, 2024: The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has successfully busted a major multi-crore fraud involving the creation of fake Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) cards. The operation led to the arrest of eight individuals, including key figures from Khyati Hospital.
Fraudulent Card Creation Scheme Exposed
The investigation revealed that Mehul Patel, who was responsible for operating the PMJAY portal for Khyati Hospital, was central to the scam. Patel’s actions allowed patients without valid PMJAY cards to obtain fraudulent ones by paying a fee to an intermediary named Nimish.
The Process of Fraudulent Card Creation
According to the Crime Branch Joint Commissioner of Police (JCP) Sharad Singhal, when patients arrived at Khyati Hospital without a PMJAY card, they were directed to Chirag Rajput and Kartik Patel. These individuals would then contact Nimish, who charged Rs 1,500 to create a PMJAY card for the patients. The card was then sent to Mehul Patel, and once the patients underwent surgeries, the hospital claimed corresponding funds under the PMJAY scheme.
Hospital Camps Used for Fraudulent Card Generation
Further investigation revealed that Khyati Hospital organized camps where individuals without PMJAY cards were offered the chance to have one created on-site. This fraudulent system allowed the hospital to improperly claim funds for surgeries conducted on patients using fake cards.
Action and Arrests
The Crime Branch arrested eight individuals involved in the fraud, including the hospital staff, intermediaries, and others involved in the illegal operations. The authorities continue to probe the full scale of the scam and have urged other hospitals to ensure the integrity of the PMJAY process.
