Dr Prashant Vazirani, the sole accused arrested in the Khyati Multispeciality Hospital case, has been placed under an additional four-day police remand by an Ahmedabad Court as investigation into the deaths of two beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) continues.
The investigation stems from the deaths of Nagar Senma (75) and Mahesh Barot (52), residents of Borisana village in Kadi taluka, North Gujarat, who underwent angioplasty at the hospital on November 11 under the PM-JAY scheme.
Both patients died on the same day. Following their deaths, three First Information Reports (FIRs) were lodged at the Vastrapur Police Station on November 13 against the hospital’s director Kartik Patel, CEO Chirag Rajput, promoters Dr Sanjay Patolia as well as Rajshree Kothari and Dr Vazirani.
On Thursday, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sharad Singhal stated, “Dr Prashant’s seven-day remand ended today. Many documents were seized during searches. A four-day remand has now been provided to the city Crime Branch.”
Six Crime Branch teams conducted searches at Khyati Hospital and the residences of the accused. Items seized during the searches include documents, pen drives, laptops, computers and hospital files.
“Hospital’s CCTV footages are being examined, bank accounts are being scrutinised and original files of 19 people have been recovered,” Singhal said.
The investigation revealed that the hospital had organised 13 medical camps in various villages, during which 10–15 people from each village were brought to the hospital for treatment.
Singhal further informed that “CEO Rahul Jain, Marketing Manager Milind Patel, and Chirag Rajput called the patients. They used to decide the plot for getting patients.”
Reports of coronary angioplasty and angiography on Khyati Hospital letterheads are suspected to have been fabricated using computers. Consent forms signed by patients or their relatives but lacking a doctor’s signature or name have raised further suspicions.
Reportedly, handwriting samples of Dr Vazirani are being collected to confirm the authorship of handwritten notes found in some angiography charts.
During the court hearing, Special Public Prosecutor Vijay Barot said, “During the search, stamps used by Dr Prashant for his designation and registration were found in files, but the actual stamp was not recovered. Questions remain about where the stamp is, who created it and why angiography charts are missing from some patient files.”
Two mobile phones belonging to Dr Vazirani have been seized and their call and WhatsApp data are under analysis. Forensic accountants and handwriting experts are verifying the authenticity of documents, including those submitted through the PM-JAY portal.
The names of two or three more doctors have surfaced during the investigation and their roles are under scrutiny. “The Health Department is actively supporting the investigation,” Singhal confirmed. More documents have been requested for scrutiny.
A Look Out Circular (LOC) has been issued for four absconding accused in the case: Kartik Patel, Chirag Rajput, Dr Sanjay Patolia, and Rajshree Kothari.
Meanwhile, allegations of “VIP” treatment given to Dr Vazirani during his seven-day police remand have led to disciplinary action. Lalsang Sagradan Gadhavi, a head constable at Vastrapur Police Station, has been suspended for negligence in duty.
Also Read: Guj Reappoints 568 Retired Govt Officers In Two Years
