Supreme Court refuses to interfere with bail granted to Ahmedabad cardiologist in PMJAY angioplasty deaths

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea filed by the Gujarat government challenging the Gujarat High Court’s decision to grant regular bail to cardiologist Dr Prashant Vazirani, who has been accused in connection with the deaths of two patients following allegedly unnecessary angioplasty procedures, as per reports.

A bench comprising Justices J K Maheshwari and A S Chandurkar declined to interfere with the high court order dated December 8 last year, which granted bail to Vazirani. 

Addressing the state’s counsel, Swati Ghildiyal, the bench reportedly observed that the accused was a medical professional and could be monitored while on bail.

The Gujarat government argued that the matter was serious, claiming that two people had lost their lives due to unnecessary medical procedures performed by the doctor. 

However, Justice Maheshwari reportedly stated that the court had examined all the material on record and saw no reason to intervene in the bail order.

During the hearing, the bench also questioned senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for Vazirani, over the allegations against his client and advised him not to indulge in this.

Dr Vazirani had performed angioplasty procedures on patients at Khyati Multispeciality Hospital in Ahmedabad. 

On November 14, 2024, the Vastrapur police registered three FIRs and arrested him in connection with the deaths of two beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY).

Two FIRs were lodged based on complaints filed by the relatives of the deceased patients, while the third was registered following a complaint by the Chief District Medical Officer on behalf of the state government.

Police alleged that the accused had conspired to obtain undue financial benefits under the PMJAY scheme by carrying out unnecessary angioplasty and stent placement procedures, which allegedly led to the deaths of two patients. The deceased were identified as Nagarbhai Senma (59) and Mahesh Barot (45), both residents of Mehsana district.

According to the FIRs, angioplasty and stent placement were performed on the two men despite there being no medical necessity for surgical intervention. 

The police further alleged that the patients were not provided proper post-operative care and that no cardiologist was present at the time of their deaths on the same day as the procedures.

Investigators also alleged that the hospital misrepresented the extent of arterial blockage to persuade patients to undergo surgery, with the intention of claiming payments under the PMJAY scheme, which provides free health insurance cover of up to ₹5 lakh per year to eligible beneficiaries.

As per the complaints, the hospital had organised a free medical check-up camp in Borisana village of Mehsana district on November 10, 2024. Following the camp, 19 villagers were taken to the Ahmedabad hospital on November 11 for angiography. After the diagnostic procedure, doctors allegedly carried out angioplasty and inserted stents in seven patients on the same day.