In two separate incidents, the Delhi Police has arrested two ambulance drivers for allegedly charging exorbitant rates to shift Covid patients from one hospital to another.
In the first incident, the Delhi Police arrested a 42 year-old ambulance driver who was charging `10,000 for 20 kilometers (kms) in Southeast Delhi. Police said that the accused identified Chirag Goyal was arrested for charging exorbitant rates to shift the Covid patient from one hospital to another.
According to RP Meena, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Southeast district, on May 4, a man told the patrolling staff one ambulance driver was demanding ` 10,000 for shifting his Covid positive patient from Luv Kush Chowk in Jaitpur to AIIMS hospital which is approximately 20 kms distant.
“The police team apprehended the ambulance driver from the spot. He was also not wearing the PPE kit and other safety equipment while driving the ambulance, as per the guidelines. Accordingly, a case under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code was registered,” said the DCP.
“During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he wanted to earn quick money in a short frame of time so he started overcharging the needy persons who are ready to shift their patients from one hospital to another at any cost,” said the DCP.
In another incident, the police have nabbed a 31 year-old ambulance driver in Northwest Delhi for charging exorbitant rates.
“On May 3, when a police patrolling team was near Deep Chand Bhandu Hospital, an information was received that an ambulance driver was involved in malpractice of over-charging Covid patients by demanding exorbitant fare of ambulance from the public due to covid-19 pandemic,” said Dr Guriqbal Singh Sidhu, the Additional DCP, Northwest district.
“The facts of the information got verified when the driver of the ambulance gave a receipt of Rs 6,000 for transporting covid patients from Deep Chand Bhandu Hospital to Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh. Thus, he was found over-charging covid patients. He was charging Rs 6000 for a distance of only five kms,” said the additional DCP. “A case was registered under relevant sections of IPC at Bharat Nagar police station and the accused was placed under arrest,” the additional DCP added.