The Dindoshi Police on Monday arrested Dineshkumar Premchand Kesarwani, the owner of a government rationing shop in Gilbert Hill, Andheri West, in connection with a fake government document racket. He had allegedly obtained two fraudulent ration cards from a person identified as Dayal.
The investigation, which initially led to the arrest of two others and the seizure of 443 fake ration cards, has now revealed evidence of a much larger scam. Authorities stated that the counterfeit cards were used to fraudulently access benefits under various government welfare schemes, particularly medical treatment programs.
Verification of all seized cards is ongoing. Teams have visited multiple addresses listed on the cards, discovering that some addresses were nonexistent. Statements have been recorded from individuals at other locations.
Police sources said that several beneficiaries from Malwani, Malad, admitted to using the fake ration cards to obtain treatments at private hospitals under schemes such as the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana and the Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana. The treatments included bypass surgery, angiography, knee replacement, and other major procedures.
“During witness interrogation, it was revealed that hospital teams in Mira Road and other areas charged between Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 to arrange fake ration cards, accepting cash and online payments,” an officer from Dindoshi police stated.
Several prominent private hospitals and agents are now under scrutiny. Police said the racket has operated for several years, siphoning crores of rupees from government schemes, with the estimated loss expected to rise as the probe continues. Strict action will be taken against any complicit hospitals or individuals.
