New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting raids at more than 19 locations in Delhi, Chandigarh, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh (Districts- Kangra, Una, Shimla, Mandi, Kullu) in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case. The case involves the generation of fake Ayushman Bharat AB-PMJAY ID cards and violations of the scheme by several hospitals, including Bankey Bihari Hospital and Fortis Hospital.
The search operation began earlier this morning and is currently ongoing.
Among the locations being searched are Fortis Hospital and premises belonging to R.S. Bali, a Congress MLA. The Enforcement Directorate is also raiding the properties of Dr Rajesh Sharma, a close confidant of the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, and his associated premises.
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Dr Sharma operates Shri Balaji Hospital in Kangra and had previously vacated the Dehra assembly seat to pave the way for the Chief Minister’s wife. Meanwhile, R.S. Bali, the Congress MLA from Nagrota, owns Fortis Hospital in Kangra and holds key positions as Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation and Vice-Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Board.
“Many medical bills have been generated using these fake cards, causing losses to the exchequer and the public. Names of R.S. Bali, a Congress MLA from Nagrota, Himachal Pradesh, and Dr Rajesh Sharma of Shri Balaji Hospital, Kangra (a close associate of the current Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu) have also surfaced in the fraud. Their premises are being searched,” said a source close to the investigation.