PIONEEREDGE NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
The State Health Authority (SHA) has lodged a police complaint regarding a fraud case in which a young man allegedly defrauded a hospital of Rs 35,000 by promising to expedite pending medical claims under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
According to the complaint filed by additional director (Administration) Nikhil Tyagi, Rohit Yadav contacted AKI Hospital in Sitarganj and claimed that he could speed up their pending medical claims in exchange for a 10 per cent commission from the hospital.
Yadav called a hospital representative to the SHA office, but when the representative failed to arrive, he sent a QR code, pressurising the representative to transfer the money. The hospital officials reportedly fell into the trap and transferred Rs 35,000 to the account of Durgesh Gupta, as directed by Yadav.
After realising they had been scammed, the hospital sent a complaint to the SHA via email, which included a screenshot of the money transfer and an audio clip of the conversation with the accused. Following the complaint, it was found that the accused’s mobile number had been switched off. The authority acknowledged that this case involves serious fraud and corrupt conduct. There is suspicion that an employee of the authority may have leaked internal information, which allowed the accused to obtain details about pending claims.
Tyagi stated that this act not only constitutes a criminal offense but also undermines the credibility of the authority. He emphasised the need for strict action against the accused and his associates under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988. The SHA has sought a thorough investigation into the matter, adding that the culprits should be apprehended and decisive action should be taken.
