Fake Ayushman Cards Scam: ED raids hospitals, seizes Rs 88 lakh in cash

Written by Kajal Rajput Published On 2024-12-22T15:00:57+05:30 | Updated On 22 Dec 2024 3:01 PM IST

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized approximately Rs 88 lakh in cash, along with incriminating documents and digital devices, during searches at several hospitals in August. The searches were part of an investigation into the alleged creation of fake Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) cards.

The ED conducted searches at 20 locations in a case related to the alleged generation of fake Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) cards in August, Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav said in a written reply in Lok Sabha on Friday.

The locations searched included seven hospitals and their key management persons, he said.

Also Read:PMJAY Irregularities: 2 Rajkot Hospitals face suspension, 2 others fined

According to the PTI report, “The search operations led to seizure of cash amounting to approximately Rs 88 lakh and various incriminating documents and digital devices,” Jadhav stated.

The searches were conducted in Delhi, Chandigarh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh at Shree Banke Bihari Hospital, Fortis Hospital Himachal Healthcare Private Limited, City Super Speciality Hospital, Shri Balaji Hospital, Shri Harihar Hospital, Sood Nursing Home, Neelkanth Hospital for collection of evidences of the offence of money-laundering.

Further, three cases pertaining to forged claims by hospitals empanelled under AB-PMJAY in Assam have been recorded by the ED, he said.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Centre's health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri - Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has crossed the milestone of generating 26 crore Ayushman cards across the country, the health ministry said in a statement. With four crore cards, Uttar Pradesh tops the list of states with the highest number.

Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh stand at number two and three positions with 3.69 crore and 2.04 crore Ayushman cards, respectively.

Also Read:PMJAY Fraud: 5 Gujarat Hospitals debarred over alleged irregularities

AB PMJAYAB PMJAY cardsAyushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya YojanaLok SabhaPrataprao JadhavShree Banke Bihari HospitalEnforcement Directorate

Kajal Rajput

Kajal joined Medical Dialogue in 2019 for the Latest Health News. She has done her graduation from the University of Delhi. She mainly covers news about the Latest Healthcare. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.