Times of India: Chandigarh: Sunday, 7 September 2025.
A recent RTI response revealed that a Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) contractual worker, who was previously let off despite being found guilty of fleecing patients in 2015, has now been implicated in the multi-crore Ayushman Bharat scam. The information, brought to light by the Joint Action Committee (JAC), implicates Durlabh Kumar, who was previously found guilty of fleecing patients but faced no consequences in 2015.
A recent RTI application
revealed a chain of events, suggesting that the PGIMER could have prevented a
multi-crore scam under the Ayushman Bharat scheme had it acted on an earlier
internal inquiry. The information, brought to light by the JAC, implicates
Durlabh Kumar.
Kumar is now a central figure in a massive fraud operation that used forged documents and stamps to illegally procure medicines and supplies. The scam, which has been under police investigation since early this year, involved fraudulent withdrawal of funds and use of fake patient records, including those of deceased individuals. Several individuals, including a data entry operator, were arrested in connection with the fraud.
The PGIMER administration has since handed the case over to the CBI, a move recommended by its own vigilance department to ensure an unbiased investigation. This action follows the JAC's public statement on March 18, which raised concerns about the PGIMER police post's handling of the initial arrests and potential complicity of its staff. The JAC's statement pointed out that individuals initially found guilty in the fraud were released, with one accused who had a photostat shop on campus walking free.
"Had the PGI acted decisively to "nip the crime in the bud" back then, current multi-crore scams would have been prevented," said JAC chairman Ashwani Munjal.
A recent RTI response revealed that a Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) contractual worker, who was previously let off despite being found guilty of fleecing patients in 2015, has now been implicated in the multi-crore Ayushman Bharat scam. The information, brought to light by the Joint Action Committee (JAC), implicates Durlabh Kumar, who was previously found guilty of fleecing patients but faced no consequences in 2015.
Kumar is now a central figure in a massive fraud operation that used forged documents and stamps to illegally procure medicines and supplies. The scam, which has been under police investigation since early this year, involved fraudulent withdrawal of funds and use of fake patient records, including those of deceased individuals. Several individuals, including a data entry operator, were arrested in connection with the fraud.
The PGIMER administration has since handed the case over to the CBI, a move recommended by its own vigilance department to ensure an unbiased investigation. This action follows the JAC's public statement on March 18, which raised concerns about the PGIMER police post's handling of the initial arrests and potential complicity of its staff. The JAC's statement pointed out that individuals initially found guilty in the fraud were released, with one accused who had a photostat shop on campus walking free.
"Had the PGI acted decisively to "nip the crime in the bud" back then, current multi-crore scams would have been prevented," said JAC chairman Ashwani Munjal.
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