Munmun Kaur-
Published On: December 15, 2021 at 15:15 IST
The Punjab and Haryana High Court while hearing the anticipatory Bail plea of one Narinder Kumar Accused in April 2021 FIR, on allegations of cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy in the alleged treatment scam entrusted the probe of the case to a Special Investigating Agency (SIT). This decision was taken after taking the seriousness and magnitude of the alleged scam.
Apparently, the scam reported between 2016-2021 involves using fake stamps or seals of Army on forged prescriptions. The initial application was filed by Vijay Kumar Thappa of Amandeep Group of Hospitals who claimed that the hospital received a complaint from the Army Authorities regarding signatures of Army officials on treatment documents appearing to be forged in cases of certain patients referred under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).
He also claimed that inquiries by the hospital pointed a suspicion on the Petitioner and one other person who was entrusted with the task of seeking approvals from the Army officials on matters of admission and treatment of patients under ECHS.
The Petitioner claimed that he was made a scapegoat and that the investing agency was under the influence of the hospital and there was the involvement of Army officials too.
Nevertheless, Justice Sibal denied his Bail application stating that the SIT would be headed by Punjab IPS officer and Special DGP, Investigation, Lokpal, Prabodh Kumar. He also asserted that Special DGP would be at liberty to choose his team including the SP rank Officer.