Thane/Mumbai: In a shocking case of alleged corruption in public healthcare funding, three doctors have been booked for fraudulently siphoning ₹4.75 lakh from the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Medical Assistance Fund by submitting forged documents and fake patient records, police said on Saturday.
The accused — Dr Anudurg Dhone, Dr Pradeep Bapu Patil, and Dr Ishwar Pawar — have been charged under IPC sections 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 471 (use of forged documents) and other relevant provisions. The fraud reportedly occurred between May and July 2023 at the Ganpati Multi-Speciality Hospital in Ambivili, Mohane, Thane district.
In a strongly worded statement, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) described the case as “deeply disturbing,” noting that the medical aid fund exists to support treatment for underprivileged patients. Considering the seriousness of the allegations, the probe has been handed over to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW).
According to the FIR registered by Khadakpada Police, the accused fabricated admission and treatment records for 13 non-existent patients, including fake surgery details, to claim funds fraudulently. Two major irregularities involved the alleged treatment of “Arvind Solkhi” and “Bhagwan Bhadane,” for whom the government had sanctioned ₹3.7 lakh and ₹3.1 lakh, respectively.
Investigations revealed that neither patient was admitted to the hospital listed in their application. A visit to Ganpati Hospital exposed its poor infrastructure, and Dr Dhone allegedly fled the scene under the pretext of picking up his child from school.
Further probe revealed the phone numbers listed for the patients actually belonged to the accused doctors. Dr Dhone later named Dr Pawar and Dr Patil as co-conspirators who allegedly helped list Ganpati Hospital on the government panel.
Rameshwar Naik, head of the CM Relief Fund Cell, warned of zero tolerance for misuse of government aid schemes:
“Strictest possible action will be taken against those found guilty of such fraud.”
The investigation is ongoing.
