THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Ranchi, April 4: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting raids at 21 locations in connection with the Ayushman Bharat scheme scam, targeting the premises of former Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta’s PS Om Prakash, Third Party Assessment (TPA) agencies, and others.
Since Friday morning, ED teams have been carrying out searches across Ranchi, including areas such as Ashok Nagar, PP Compound, Edalhatu, Bariatu, Lalpur, and Chiroundi.
According to reports, the raids cover 21 locations—17 in Jharkhand, two in West Bengal, and one each in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
The investigation was launched after the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India presented a report in Parliament highlighting irregularities in the Ayushman Bharat scheme, prompting the ED to register an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR).
The CAG report highlighted irregularities in the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Jharkhand, including cases of treating deceased individuals and other discrepancies.
After the CAG report was presented in Parliament and in light of the findings mentioned in it, the ED had sought information from the Health Department and the Jharkhand State Health Society regarding actions taken against those involved in irregularities under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
In response, the Health Department provided the ED with details of FIRs filed against certain hospitals in connection with the scheme’s irregularities.
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.
