The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against the directors and officials of a private hospital in Jodhpur, along with unidentified Railway officials, over the alleged submission of inflated and fabricated medical reimbursement claims that reportedly caused a loss of around ₹1.5 crore to the Indian Railways. The alleged irregularities relate to claims submitted between 2022 and 2024 under a cashless treatment scheme for railway employees.
Alleged Fraud Linked to Cashless Treatment Scheme
According to the CBI, the case involves suspected manipulation of medical records, inflated hospital bills, and false reimbursement claims for treatments and medicines that were allegedly never provided.
The FIR was registered after a preliminary inquiry into complaints received from the Divisional Railway Hospital, Jodhpur. Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the private hospital had been authorised to provide cashless treatment to railway beneficiaries for medical services unavailable at the railway hospital.
CBI Alleges Manipulated Medical Records
The investigating agency alleged that patients admitted to general wards were shown as having received treatment in intensive care units (ICUs), enabling the hospital to claim higher reimbursements.
The CBI further alleged that expensive ICU medicines were billed despite not being administered. Investigators also identified discrepancies in discharge summaries and doctors’ signatures submitted with reimbursement claims.
According to the agency, the medical records submitted for payment differed significantly from the original bills issued to patients or their relatives, indicating serious irregularities in the reimbursement process.
Criminal Conspiracy Case Registered
The investigation has been assigned to a Deputy Superintendent of Police of the CBI.
The agency stated that the matter has been treated as a case of criminal conspiracy. Accordingly, an FIR has been registered against the director of the private hospital, unidentified public servants from the Divisional Railway Hospital, Jodhpur, and other unidentified private individuals.
Investigation Continues
The CBI is continuing its investigation to identify all individuals allegedly involved in the suspected conspiracy and to examine the full extent of the alleged fraud.
The agency noted that this is not the first investigation involving alleged irregularities linked to railway officials in Jodhpur. In 2017, it arrested a Senior Divisional Medical Officer of the Jodhpur Railway Hospital in an alleged bribery case related to favourable medical certificates. In another case, the CBI registered an FIR against a Railway Office Superintendent and local contractors over an alleged parking and licence fee scam at Raika Bagh Railway Station that reportedly caused a loss of around ₹42 lakh to the Railways.
Important Highlights
- The CBI has registered a case over an alleged ₹1.5 crore medical reimbursement fraud involving a private hospital in Jodhpur and unidentified Railway officials.
- The alleged irregularities relate to cashless treatment claims submitted between 2022 and 2024 for railway employees.
- Investigators alleged inflated medical records, fabricated bills, false treatment claims, and discrepancies in discharge summaries and doctors’ signatures.
- The FIR was registered following a preliminary inquiry into complaints from the Divisional Railway Hospital, Jodhpur.
- The CBI is investigating the suspected criminal conspiracy and identifying all persons allegedly involved.
