Two Arrested in Telangana Chief Minister's Relief Fund Scam
In a significant development, the Telangana Police have arrested two individuals in Nalgonda district for their involvement in an alleged scam related to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF). The accused reportedly embezzled government funds by submitting fake medical bills intended to assist patients in need.
Key Highlights:
- Accused submitted fraudulent medical bills to siphon off government funds.
- Fake bills were created, with Rs 4,000 charged per application.
- The accused have been remanded to judicial custody; investigation continues.
The scam was uncovered on August 23 after the state revenue department raised concerns over fraudulent CMRF applications submitted by various hospitals across Telangana. The arrested individuals, 46-year-old medical practitioner Gotti Giri and 40-year-old hospital supervisor Leki Reddy Saidi Reddy, were found to have created fake CMRF bills using desktop computers and forged rubber stamps of doctors and hospitals at local printing shops in Miryalguda.
The duo charged Rs 4,000 per application and submitted 19 fraudulent claims under the names of Amma Hospital in Nalgonda and Naveena Multi Speciality Hospital in Miryalguda. The police, during their investigation, seized critical evidence, including a computer hard disk containing soft copies of the fake medical bills, forged rubber stamps, and letterheads.
Both accused were presented before the court and have been placed under judicial remand. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to identify and arrest other individuals involved in the scam. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is currently probing 27 hospitals across Telangana for their alleged involvement in embezzling CMRF funds, with six FIRs already registered against these hospitals.
Also Read:NCP Coporator Murder
The probe was initiated at the request of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who responded to concerns about potential forgery and fraud linked to the previous administration's handling of the CMRF.