Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested 5 members of an alleged cash-for-treatment racket. The racket was operating in the Safdarjung hospital and the senior neurosurgeon, Manish Rawat is arrested in the same case. In addition to the neurosurgeon, a businessman from South Delhi and three middlemen were arrested.

The accused have allegedly over-charged for the treatment of poor people. They have even indulged themselves in demanding bribes and money laundering.

Working of the gang

The south Delhi businessman is the owner of Kanishka Surgicals in Jungapura. The three middlemen are Kuldeep, Avnesh Patel, and Manish Sharma. Agency spokesperson RV Joshi said, “The accused doctor used to demand money for giving medical advice and conducting surgery, bypassing rules for treatment at the hospital.”
CBI started an investigation after the previous 3 incidents of bribes. An amount worth rupees 1.15 lakh, rupees 55,000, and rupees 30,000 were allegedly taken by the gang for surgery.

According to the investigation conducted by CBI, Patel used to take bribes on the behalf of Dr. Rawat. He used to convey to the accompanist of the patients that he could arrange an early appointment with the senior doctor if they paid the bribe.

Patel used to make them send the money in cash to Manish Sharma or Kuldeep (their gang members). They could either transfer it online on contact numbers. Followed by this procedure, Dr. Rawat used to decide the time for surgery says the FIR lodged by the agency. Rawat’s share would be delivered thereafter.

Surgical equipments sold at higher prices

Only the bribe couldn’t satiate the greed of these criminals. The doctor would ask the patients to buy the surgical equipments themselves from the businessman’s firm. The firm would price the  equipments at a much higher price than MRP. The profits were again shared after the procedure.