Days after seizing 443 fake ration cards, Dindoshi police arrested a ration shop owner from Andheri West in a widening scam. The forged cards were allegedly used to claim benefits under health schemes like Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana, with hospitals and agents now under scrutiny
Accused has been identified as Dineshkumar Kesarwani. REPRESENTATION PIC/istock
Days after the Dindoshi police busted a fake government document racket and arrested two persons while also seizing 443 ration cards, a third arrest was made on Monday in which the police apprehended the owner of a government rationing shop in Andheri West’s Gilbert Hill area. The accused, Dineshkumar Premchand Kesarwani, 40, had allegedly obtained two ration cards from a person identified as Dayal.
Larger scam unearthed
Investigators say the probe has revealed evidence pointing to a much larger scam. According to officials, the fake ration cards were allegedly used to fraudulently avail benefits under various government welfare schemes, particularly medical treatment schemes.
Police sources said verification of all seized fake ration cards is currently underway. Teams have visited multiple addresses listed on the cards. While some addresses were found to be non-existent, statements have been recorded from individuals traced at other locations, said sources.
During questioning, several beneficiaries from the Malwani area in Malad allegedly admitted to using the fake ration cards to avail treatment in private hospitals under schemes such as the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana and the Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana, along with other government health initiatives. Most of the treatments included major procedures such as bypass heart surgery, angiography, knee replacement, and other serious medical interventions.
Hospitals under scanner
“During interrogation of a witnesses, we learned that teams operating in Mira Road and other parts of the city hospitals allegedly took money to create fake ration cards and helped beneficiaries avail scheme benefits using those cards. The agents operating from the hospital had charged Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 for arranging fake ration cards. Many beneficiaries give these charges cash as well as online transactions to the agents,” said an officer from Dindoshi police station.
Several prominent private hospitals and agents have come under the scanner. Police sources indicated that this racket has been operating for several years, siphoning off crores of rupees from the government exchequer. Officials said the estimated loss is expected to rise further as the investigation progresses, and strict action will be taken against any hospital or individualfound complicit.
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