In a major development in the ongoing multi-crore fraud involving the Ayushman Bharat cashless treatment scheme at Chandigarh PGI, police have now arrested Kapil, a data operator at the Himcare counter in Nehru Hospital. Kapil is the first insider from PGI apprehended in connection with this expanding scam.
The investigation took a significant turn after the earlier arrest of Balram, who was caught misusing Ayushman Bharat benefits by illegally withdrawing medicines and surgical items. Following Balram’s arrest, the case was transferred to the Crime Branch for an in-depth probe.
During interrogation, Balram revealed Kapil’s involvement in the fraudulent activities. This led to Kapil’s immediate arrest. Authorities are currently investigating whether the fraudulent practices extended beyond the Ayushman Bharat scheme to also exploit the Himcare scheme, which provides health benefits to residents of Himachal Pradesh.
If these allegations prove true, the scam could trigger significant reforms in the Himcare scheme’s policies and operations to prevent future misuse.
