Khyati hospital consultant Dr Prashant Vazirani remanded in 7-day custody
Updated: Nov 15th, 2024
Two days after the alleged PM-JAY scam at Ahmedabad’s Khyati hospital was busted, one of the accused, Dr Prashant Vazirani was remanded in 7-day custody by the Ahmedabad Rural Court.
Vazirani had reportedly conducted angiographies and angioplasties on innocent patients, which they apparently did not require, leading to the death of two individuals.
Amid tight security, the accused cardiologist was presented before the court on Thursday.
The remand application hearing lasted 35 minutes, after which Judge Chopra remanded the accused Vazirani in custody until November 21.
To avoid the media, the police presented the accused directly in court through the back door. However, a sense of outrage was evident among the lawyers and parties involved.
Reasons provided for the remand
- To determine how many unnecessary angiograms and angioplasties were performed by the accused
- To understand how the accused managed to process surgeries under PM-JAY on 19 patients
- A committee appointed by the government will question the accused regarding the recovered files of 19 patients
- To find out the involvement of Dr Rajendra Khambhete and Rahul Jain in the crime as the directors of Khyati Hospital
- To obtain the names and addresses of Khyati Group owners Dr Sanjay Patoliya, Raj Shri Kothari, Chirag Rajput, and others for custodial interrogation
- Who is the doctor who ordered angiograms for the 19 patients after they were brought to the hospital?
- An investigation to determine if bogus papers were created to perform unnecessary angiograms and angioplasties
- To identify other individuals involved in this scam and their role in assisting the accused
- The police need to investigate the operations of Khyati Hospital under PM-JAY since 2021 and check the hospital’s bank accounts
- To ascertain whether angiography of seven patients can be done in a day
Moreover, a government-appointed committee will question the accused regarding the recovered files of 19 patients
Investigation has revealed that the two patients lost their lives after the angioplasty. At that time Dr Vazirani was absent. Another doctor administered treatment to both patients at that time. His name is yet to be disclosed by Vazirani.
While the police are investigating the case, two out of seven patients from Borisana who underwent angioplasty are under treatment.
One patient is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kadi after breathing problems and suffocation followed by surgery.
Another one is getting treatment at the U N Mehta Institute of Cardiology in Ahmedabad.
Lookout notice for owner
Separate teams of police are searching for the CEO Chirag Rajput (resident of Rivera Blues, Makarba), Rajshri Kothari (resident of Aditya Bungalows, Thaltej), and Sanjay Patolia (resident of Thaltej).
Moreover, a case which was registered regarding the deaths of two patients from Kadi was transferred to Vastrapur police station.
GMC’s second notice to Khyati hospital
The Gujarat Medical Council (GMC) issued a notice to the hospital on Tuesday and another one on Thursday, demanding an explanation regarding alleged negligence in the treatment of a patient who passed away.
GMC also requested documents related to the hospital’s registration, ownership, C-Form, and registration certificates of all doctors practising there.
There are discussions that even though the police have filed a complaint and evidence is present, the GMC is only issuing a notice instead of taking stricter action. As per the gravity of the situation, the GMC was supposed to immediately conduct a hearing and revoke the doctor’s and hospital’s licences.
Profit-minded hospital
Khyati hospital roughly earned ₹50,000 from PM-JAY by operating on one patient.
The hospital reportedly paid ₹12,000-₹15,000 to consultant Dr Vazirani, consequently, ₹ 10,000 to hospital staff, and ₹15,000 to ₹30,000 on each stent.
This way, the hospital spent ₹50,000-₹60,000 on one patient and claimed ₹1,00,000-₹1,50,000 from the PM-JAY.
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