In Uttar Pradesh, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) apprehended CGHS Meerut officers as well as a private individual, over accusations of a ₹50-lakh bribery scandal in a hospital.
In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three individuals, including Ajay Kumar, the Additional Director, and Lavesh Solanki, the Office Superintendent of the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) Meerut, and a private person, Raees Ahmad, on charges of demanding a ₹50 lakh bribe from a private hospital group to prevent its hospitals from being de-empanelled from the CGHS scheme.
The case arose after the CGHS officials conducted a surprise inspection of two hospitals belonging to the hospital group on July 8, 2025, and issued notices citing minor deficiencies as a pretext to extort money. The accused reportedly demanded ₹50 lakh as a bribe, with Ajay Kumar agreeing to accept an initial payment of ₹5 lakh. However, the hospital group lodged a complaint, and the CBI set a trap and arrested the accused red-handed while accepting this partial payment. Searches were also conducted at the residences of the accused, and the investigation is ongoing.
The bribery was linked to the threat of de-empanelling the hospitals from the CGHS empanelled list, which would have rendered the hospitals ineligible to treat CGHS beneficiaries, thereby highlighting the alleged misuse of official power for corrupt gain.
On July 8, 2025, a surprise inspection was conducted by the CGHS team on two of the complainant's hospitals in Meerut. The complainant, a medical group, runs multiple hospitals in and around Meerut under different names. The case was registered by the CBI on August 12, 2025, based on a complaint made by a private hospital's Director Operations (Group) in Meerut, UP.
Official notices were served upon both hospitals, highlighting frivolous deficiencies with the intention to obtain undue advantage. Both accused public servants insisted on the delivery of the bribe amount of ₹50 lakh at the earliest to avoid de-empanelling.
The investigation into the bribery case is continuing. The public is urged to report any such incidents of corruption to the authorities to ensure transparency and uphold the integrity of public services.
- The bribery case involving Ajay Kumar, Lavesh Solanki, and Raees Ahmad, directly relates to medical-conditions and health-and-wellness, as the CGHS scheme is designed to provide medical services to the public.
- This scandal of demand for bribes in the context of general-news has put a spotlight on crime-and-justice, as it involves the misuse of official power for personal gain.
- As the case unfolds, the Indian public is encouraged to stay informed about this news item, given its implications for health-and-wellness and the importance of maintaining integrity in public services.
%20apprehended%20CGHS%20Meerut%20officers%20as%20well%20as%20a%20private%20individual%2C%20over%20accusations%20of%20a%20%E2%82%B950-lakh%20bribery%20scandal%20in%20a%20hospital.){kind=link}