Ayushman card scam: Bail denied to ex-GM of PM-JAY MA scheme

Ahmedabad: A city sessions court on Friday denied regular bail to the former general manager of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana-Mukhyamantri Amrutam (PM-JAY MA) scheme in Gujarat in connection with the scam of issuing Ayushman cards to ineligible people. This racket came to light during the investigation into the deaths of two PM-JAY beneficiaries after they underwent angioplasty procedures at at Khyati Multispecialty Hospital in Nov.
The former GM, Dr Shaileshkunar Anand, was arrested two weeks ago by the city crime branch. In his bail plea, he submitted that he is associated with and working for the govt as a Class-II medical officer for the past 20 years, with an unblemished, spotless service record. He was a member of the inquiry committee appointed by the state govt to look into the two deaths. His counsel submitted that the health department has not initiated departmental proceedings against him, nor has he been suspended from service.
Public prosecutor Sudhir Brahmbhatt vehemently opposed the bail plea and submitted that Dr Anand and co-accused Milap Patel participated in a large-scale conspiracy for monetary benefit. They facilitated the other co-accused to issue Ayushman cards to ineligible persons so that they could avail themselves of the govt's free healthcare scheme. Khyati Hospital's CEO, Chirag Rajput, forwarded various KYC requests to Dr Anand, who approved them in connivance with Milap Patel.
Additional sessions judge H G Pandya refused bail, considering the gravity of the offence. The court stated, "Considering the facts, in their totality, as the investigation is at a crucial stage, the applicant being a high-ranking officer, having a dominant position in the system related to the issuance of Ayushman cards, if enlarged on regular bail at this juncture, it would adversely affect the investigation."