Ranchi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a major operation, raiding 21 locations in connection with the Ayushman Bharat scheme scam. The operation, which began early Friday morning, targets the properties of former Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta’s PS Om Prakash, Third Party Assessment (TPA) agencies, and others allegedly involved in the irregularities.
The raids are being carried out across multiple locations in Ranchi, including Ashok Nagar, PP Compound, Edalhatu, Bariatu, Lalpur, and Chiroundi. In total, 17 locations in Jharkhand, along with two in West Bengal, and one each in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, are being searched.
This investigation was initiated after the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India presented a report in Parliament, revealing significant irregularities in the Ayushman Bharat scheme, particularly in Jharkhand. The report pointed to issues such as the treatment of deceased individuals, prompting the ED to register an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR).
Following the CAG report, the ED sought information from the Jharkhand Health Department and the State Health Society regarding actions taken against the individuals and institutions implicated in the discrepancies. The Health Department provided the ED with details of FIRs filed against certain hospitals for their role in the scheme’s irregularities.
The ED’s raids on Friday are a direct result of these findings, with the agency intensifying its investigation into the corruption surrounding the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the state.
