Ahmedabad: Khyati Multispeciality Hospital chairman Kartik Patel, a key accused in the angioplasty deaths in an alleged misuse of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (PM-JAY) scheme, has been sent to 10 days’ remand to the city crime branch. Patel was arrested late on Friday night from the Ahmedabad airport on his return from Dubai.
A magisterial court on Sunday granted the remand till 10am on Jan 28 to the crime branch, which had sought a 14-day remand for in-depth investigation into the deaths, a multi-layered financial fraud, and the alleged exploitation of patients under the pretext of medical treatments under PM-JAY.
Investigators argued in court that Patel holds 50.98% ownership of the hospital and was pivotal in its operations. Police stressed the necessity of Patel’s remand, citing the need to uncover the fraudulent practices behind medical camps, financial transactions, and the involvement of other conspirators, including potential links to govt officials.
Patel is accused of masterminding the scam that involved organising free medical camps in rural Gujarat to lure unsuspecting patients to Khyati Hospital in Bodakdev. According to the remand plea, patients were falsely diagnosed with severe illnesses and advised unnecessary procedures like angiography and angioplasty to claim PM-JAY benefits. It has also been alleged that Patel and his associates used fake patient data and manipulated govt records to maximise financial gains.
Police also told the court that vital electronic evidence, including patient records, hospital registers and mobile phone data, has been seized and that Patel’s role in orchestrating these schemes, directing staff and benefiting financially from govt funds makes his custodial interrogation critical to the investigation. Patel was arrested more than two months after two patients from Mehsana’s Borisana village died in Nov 2024 allegedly after undergoing angioplasties that weren’t needed. His is the ninth arrest in connection with the four cases filed after these deaths.