The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at 17 locations in Jharkhand in connection with irregularities in the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Locations of officials linked to the Jharkhand State Arogya Society (JSAS), employees and offices of Third-Party Administrators (TPAs) like MD India, Safeway, Medi Assist and their associates were also raided. The officials of the federal probe agency raided 21 locations in Jharkhand, Delhi and West Bengal under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The operation began on Friday morning targeting multiple sites in Ranchi, including Ashok Nagar, PP Compound, Edalhatu, Bariatu, Lalpur, and Chiroundi. Apart from 17 locations in Jharkhand, two places in West Bengal and one each in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh are also under investigation.
The probe was initiated following a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, presented in the Parliament which highlighted irregularities in the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The CAG report exposed several discrepancies, including cases where a large number of individuals were registered as beneficiaries. In response, the ED sought information from the Jharkhand Health Department and the Jharkhand State Health Society regarding actions taken against those involved.
The alleged fraud involves claiming payment for Ayushman Bharat schemes without actually providing services. Several hospitals, insurance companies and pharmaceutical firms are under investigation.
Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) is a central government scheme launched in September 2018 in Ranchi by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under the scheme, hospitals give free treatment to the poor and other beneficiaries. Registered hospitals receive funds through this scheme to cover the treatment costs.
After the ED identified irregularities involving hospitals and insurance companies, it formed teams and assigned them to various locations across the state, sources said.
The ED had sought information from the Health Department and the Jharkhand State Health Society about the action taken against those involved in the irregularities in the scheme. In response, the Health Department had sent information to the ED about the FIRs lodged against some hospitals in connection with irregularities, sources said.
Based on these FIRs, the ED registered an ECIR and launched an investigation into the Ayushman Bharat scam in Jharkhand. Following its findings, the agency conducted raids on the premises of those linked to the case on Friday.
Among the high profile persons the ED raid was at the residence of Om Prakash alias Guddu Singh, the personal secretary of former Health minister of Jharkhand Banna Gupta, in Nilgiri Apartment, Mango police station area. A seven-member ED team has been questioning Singh in connection with alleged money laundering and financial irregularities.
