A case of alleged bribery has been registered against senior officials of a charitable trust hospital in Nashik on June 11, 2025 after a farmer accused hospital authorities of demanding money for cancer treatment that was meant to be free under a government health scheme. The accused include the hospital’s medical superintendent, a cashier, and a doctor. The Panchavati police have booked them under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The complaint was filed by the husband of a 38 year old woman from Dindori in Nashik district. The woman was undergoing cancer treatment at the hospital under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Scheme, a state supported healthcare programme designed to provide cashless medical care to economically weaker families.
According to the police complaint, the woman was admitted to the hospital on March 31, 2025, for cancer surgery. Her husband, a farmer and holder of a yellow ration card, was informed that the treatment would be covered entirely under the government scheme and that no payment was required.
However, the situation changed soon after the admission. On April 3, the complainant alleged that the medical superintendent asked him to pay Rs 30,000 at the hospital billing counter. When he explained that he did not have the full amount, he reportedly paid Rs 9,000 to the cashier. No receipt or official explanation for the payment was given.
Four days later, on April 7, the complainant stated that he was again asked to arrange more money. This time, the demand was for Rs 21,000. Struggling financially, he managed to pay Rs 11,000 to the cashier. Once again, the payment was allegedly taken without documentation.
The farmer alleged that the demands did not end with the surgery. When he returned to the hospital later for the removal of his wife’s surgical stitches, he was asked to pay an additional Rs 5,000. At this point, he refused and decided to approach the police.
The complainant told investigators that he had trusted the hospital because it operated under a charitable trust and was officially registered under the government health scheme.
Based on the complaint, the Panchavati police registered a case on June 11, 2025, under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The investigation has been handed over to the Anti Corruption Bureau in Nashik.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Swati Pawar is leading the probe. Police officials confirmed that statements are being recorded and documents related to hospital billing and scheme implementation are being examined.
The hospital administration has strongly denied the charges. Sameer Tulzapurkar, the general manager of the charitable trust hospital, described the complaint as false and motivated.
He stated that the surgery was conducted in April and that the complaint was filed only in June. According to him, the hospital has been serving patients for nearly two decades and has never faced such allegations in the past.
Tulzapurkar said the hospital followed all procedures related to the government scheme and would cooperate fully with the investigation. He added that the institution would defend itself through legal channels and allow authorities to verify all records.
(Rh/ARC)