The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has arrested six individuals for their involvement in a large-scale fraud that exploited weaknesses in the government’s Ayushman Bharat health card system. This scam is part of the ongoing investigation into the deaths of two beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) at Khyati Multispeciality Hospital.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Imran Jabir Husain Karigar (Surat), Imtiyaz (Bhavnagar), Narendra Gohil (Bhavnagar), Nimesh Dilipbhai Dodiya (Ahmedabad), Mohammad Fazal Sheikh (Ahmedabad), and Mohammad Asfaque Sheikh (Ahmedabad). The investigation also led to the earlier arrest of Chirag Rajput, the CEO of Khyati Hospital, who is now in judicial custody.
The investigation revealed that the fraud began with a health camp organized by Khyati Hospital in Borisana village, Kadi taluka, on November 10. During the camp, patient records were accessed, altered, and manipulated for fraudulent purposes. Two computers containing critical data and original patient files were seized in a raid, further confirming the fraudulent activities.
The scheme involved the creation of fake Ayushman Bharat cards. Chirag Rajput, in collaboration with Nimesh Dodiya, advertised card-making services online. The fake cards were sold for Rs 1,500–Rs 2,000 each, with Nimesh earning Rs 1,000 per card. These cards were primarily marketed to individuals who were not eligible for the PM-JAY benefits.
Nimesh Dodiya used WhatsApp and Telegram groups to connect with accomplices across Gujarat and beyond. In a key revelation, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sharad Singhal stated, “The group altered the source code of the Ayushman Bharat portal to generate between 1,200 and 1,500 fake health cards.”
The investigation also revealed that Enser Communication Pvt Ltd, the company responsible for the official production of Ayushman Bharat cards, was complicit in the scam. Nikhil Parekh, an employee of the company, allegedly provided the accused with illegal login credentials, which facilitated unauthorized E-KYC approvals. For his role, Nikhil was reportedly paid Rs 8,000–Rs 10,000 per month.
Key evidence recovered from the suspects includes two computers containing patient records, angiography data, and over 1,000 suspected Ayushman Bharat card-related IDs from Nimesh Dodiya’s laptop. In addition, police seized videographic proof showing the fraudulent card-making process and testimonies linking the accused to the crime.
Police sources revealed that many individuals who were not qualified for PM-JAY benefits used bribes to obtain fraudulent cards, defrauding both the Gujarat government and the Government of India.
