Rs 22 Lakh Bribe: CBI Arrests Retired Army Officer for Accepting Rs 22.5 Lakh Bribe in ECHS Scheme in Hisar
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two people, including a retired Lieutenant Colonel and a former contractual employee of the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Regional Centre, Hisar, for demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹22.5 lakh.
Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) was launched with effect from 1st April 2003. The Scheme aims to provide allopathic and AYUSH Medicare to Ex-servicemen pensioner and their dependents through a network of ECHS Polyclinics, Service medical facilities, Government hospitals, empanelled private hospitals/specified Govt. AYUSH hospitals spread across the country. The Scheme has been structured on the lines of CGHS to ensure cashless transactions, for the patients and is financed by the Government of India.
Bribe Demanded to Influence Inquiry
According to the CBI, a complaint was received from the Director of a hospital that is empaneled with ECHS. The complainant alleged that the two accused had demanded a bribe of ₹25 lakh in exchange for settling issues that arose after a recent raid conducted by ECHS officials at the hospital. The accused promised to resolve the matter and get a favourable decision from the ECHS Regional Centre in Hisar. After negotiation, the accused agreed to accept ₹22.5 lakh.
Caught Red-Handed
The CBI laid a trap and caught both accused red-handed while they were accepting the bribe amount of ₹22.5 lakh from the complainant. The entire bribe amount was recovered from the spot. Both individuals, who falsely presented themselves as officials of the ECHS Regional Centre, were immediately taken into custody.
Cash Seized During Raids
Following the arrests, the CBI also conducted searches at the residences and other locations linked to the accused. During these searches, officials recovered ₹25 lakh in cash from the premises of the former contractual employee.
Legal Proceedings Underway
The arrested individuals are being produced before the designated CBI court in Panchkula, Haryana, today (April 24, 2025). The investigation into the case is still ongoing. This incident has raised serious concerns about corruption in the healthcare services meant for ex-servicemen, and further action is expected as the CBI continues its probe.
Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme(ECHS)
Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) was launched with effect from 1st April 2003. The Scheme aims to provide allopathic and AYUSH Medicare to Ex-servicemen pensioner and their dependents through a network of ECHS Polyclinics, Service medical facilities, Government hospitals, empanelled private hospitals/specified Govt. AYUSH hospitals spread across the country. The Scheme has been structured on the lines of CGHS to ensure cashless transactions, for the patients and is financed by the Government of India.
Matters relating to Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme have been allocated to Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare after its creation in September, 2004. Later vide Notification dated 29th January, 2009 ECHS has been designated as an attached office of Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare. The Central Organisation of ECHS is headed by a Managing Director, a serving Major General.
The Scheme is managed through the existing infrastructure of the Armed Forces so as to minimize the administrative expenditure. The existing infrastructure includes command and control structure, spare capacity of Service Medical facilities (Hospitals and Medical Inspection Rooms), procurement organization for medical and non-medical equipment, Defence land and buildings etc. Station Commanders assisted by Senior Executive Medical Officers (SEMO) exercise direct control over the ECHS Polyclinics.
There are 427 Polyclinics (excluding 6 Polyclinics in Nepal) in 30 Regional Centres sanctioned by the Government, ECHS Polyclinics are designed to provide ‘Out Patient Care’ which includes consultation, essential investigation and provision of medicines. Specialized consultations, investigations and ‘In Patient Care’ (Hospitalization) is provided through spare capacity available in Service hospitals / Government Hospitals / private hospitals empanelled with ECHS.
