Give Rs.50 Lakh Bribe Or De-empanel Hospital! CGHS Director Demands Huge Bribe

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet today, October 10, 2025, against three accused persons — Dr. Ajay Kumar, Additional Director, CGHS Meerut; Lavesh Solanki, Office Superintendent, CGHS Meerut; and Raees Ahmad, a private individual — in connection with a bribery case.

The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) is a health care program introduced by the Government of India in 1954 to provide comprehensive medical facilities to central government employees, pensioners, and their dependents. It is managed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and aims to ensure quality medical care through a network of CGHS Wellness Centres, government hospitals, and empanelled private hospitals across the country. Under this scheme, beneficiaries can avail outpatient consultations, specialist care, hospitalization, diagnostic tests, and medicines either free of cost or at subsidized rates. CGHS also reimburses expenses incurred during medical emergencies.

The case was registered by the CBI on August 12, 2025, based on a complaint filed by a private hospital group from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, against two public servants. The complainant, which operates multiple hospitals in and around Meerut under different names, alleged that the accused officials had demanded a bribe of ₹50 lakh to prevent the de-empanelment of the hospitals from the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) list.

After negotiations, the accused officials allegedly agreed to accept a first installment of ₹5 lakh as part of the total bribe amount on August 12, 2025. Following this, the CBI laid a trap and caught the accused public servants and a private person red-handed while accepting the ₹5 lakh bribe amount. Subsequent searches at their residential premises led to the recovery of ₹29.50 lakh in cash and several other incriminating documents from the residence of Dr. Ajay Kumar.

During the investigation, the CBI collected oral, documentary, and digital evidence, which established the criminal conspiracy, abetment, and demand of illegal gratification by the accused persons.