Ayushman Bharat Scheme Dy CEO held for taking bribe

The Haryana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) today arrested Dr Ravi Vimal, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ayushman Bharat Scheme in Panchkula, after he was caught accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh. The bribe was allegedly demanded in exchange for revoking the suspension of a hospital that was empanelled under the scheme.

Government officials said they received a complaint at the ACB office in Karnal in this connection. The complainant, the owner of a private hospital there, reported that Dr Vimal had demanded Rs 10 lakh bribe to revoke suspension of hospital’s empanelment under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme. After negotiations, the bribe amount was settled at Rs 5 lakh.

The ACB, on the basis of the tip-off, laid a trap and arrested Dr Vimal while accepting bribe. The police said they had collected all the necessary evidence and an investigation was underway in this regard. An FIR was registered against Dr Vimal at the Anti-Corruption Bureau police station in Panchkula.