On Wednesday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted extensive raids across multiple locations in Himachal Pradesh and beyond, focusing on a money laundering investigation linked to alleged fraud within the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The operation targeted about 19 locations in Shimla, Kangra, Una, Mandi, and Kullu districts, as well as premises in Delhi, Chandigarh, and Punjab.
The raids involved several prominent figures and institutions, including Himachal Pradesh Congress MLA RS Bali, some private hospitals, and their promoters. RS Bali, who represents the Nagrota assembly seat and is also the chairman of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation and vice-chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Board, is under scrutiny. The ED's actions are part of a broader probe into alleged malpractices involving the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (AB-PMJAY) scheme.
The investigation stems from a money laundering case filed on July 16, which originated from a January 2023 FIR by the state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau. This FIR named Kiran Soni, Una-based Shri Banke Bihari Hospital, and others, accusing them of generating "fake" AB-PMJAY cards. The ED has alleged that these fake cards were used to generate fraudulent medical bills, leading to an estimated loss of around Rs 25 crore to the exchequer and the public.
Among those being investigated is Rajesh Sharma, a close associate of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Sharma reportedly gave up his ticket for the recent Dehra assembly by-poll to support Sukhu's wife, Kamlesh Thakur, who won the by-poll. The raid also targeted hospitals linked to Sharma, including Fortis Hospital in Kangra, Balaji Hospital, and the promoters of these institutions.
The ED's investigation revealed that 8,937 Ayushman Bharat golden cards have been scrapped in the state due to alleged violations of the AB-PMJAY scheme. The agency claims that hospitals, including Bankey Bihari Hospital, Fortis Hospital, Shri Balaji Hospital, Sood Nursing Home, and Sri Harihar Hospital, among others, obtained "illegal benefits" under the scheme.Â
The probe uncovered 373 fake Ayushman cards and fraudulent claims totaling Rs 40,68,150 for treatments that were never provided. Specific cases include individuals like Rajnish Kumar and Pooja Dhiman, who reportedly denied possessing or having any information about a PMJAY card issued in their names. Additionally, Raksha Devi's case highlighted that her admission was "dishonestly and illegally" blocked.
The implicated hospitals have been de-empaneled from the Ayushman Bharat scheme due to their involvement in these illegal practices and non-compliance with procedural guidelines. The ED's ongoing investigation aims to uncover the full extent of the fraud and hold those responsible accountable.
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