The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has arrested three officials who were associated with Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana or PM-JAY for fraudulent activities related to the distribution of Ayushman cards. Among the arrested include Dr. Shailesh Anand, who was the medical officer; Milap Patel, who was a project officer; and Nikhil Parekh, the head of digital who worked in the company dealing with PM-JAY's data.

Fraudulent Ayushman Cards

• Suspect Ayushman cards were issued illegally using data from the PM-JAY database.

• These cards were used to approve surgeries for ineligible individuals.

Individuals Arrested:

• Dr. Shailesh Anand: Central figure in the fraud, coordinating the issuance of illegal cards.

• Milap Patel: Worked under Dr. Anand and facilitated card matching with beneficiaries.

• Nikhil Parekh: Digital head of the company managing PM-JAY operations, implicated in approving surgeries online.

Modus Operandi:

• Dr. Anand would charge ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 for each fake Ayushman card.

• Patel was a member of WhatsApp groups with agents to ensure the approvals.

• The scamsters used software that gave them an 80% match rate between the fake cards and beneficiaries.

Extent of Fruad:

• More than 4,000 Ayushman cards were matched fraudulently.

• The scam went beyond Khyati Hospital to other health facilities.

Link with Khyati Hospital Scam:

• The scam came to light in the course of investigating the fraudulent practices at Khyati Hospital.

• Dr. Anand, linked to the hospital, collaborated with Chirag Rajput to carry out the fraud.

Statements from Authorities
Ahmedabad Crime Branch:
"The investigation revealed extensive misuse of PM-JAY data, with officials exploiting the system for financial gain."This alarming revelation underlines vulnerabilities in PM-JAY’s operational framework, emphasizing the need for stricter oversight and digital safeguards to prevent further misuse.