Madurai|HL
The plea of anticipatory bail petition filed by P Saravanan managing director of the Saravana Multi Speciality Hospital was dismissed by the Madurai bench of the Madras high for the supply of stents past expiry dates.
“The allegations against the petitioner is that he has committed a heinous crime by violating the ethics of the noble profession and that his act not only defrauded the government, but also endangered the lives of poor people suffering from heart diseases.
“The statement of the witnesses reveal that this is a prima facie case. The petitioner is absconding and there is no changed circumstances from March 22, when this court dismissed his earlier petition. Further, the petitioner is trying to make his staff responsible for the alleged offence,” said justice VM Velumani.
The court was of the view that custodial interrogation of the petitioner is necessary and the present petition was liable to be dismissed.
The petitioner allegedly colluded with dealers and purchased stents post expiry date, manipulated the expiry dates in invoices, used them for 10 patients who got treatment under the Tamil Nadu Government Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme and claimed charges from the government.
The alleged fraud came to light when the Vidal Agency for the Health Scheme conducted a surprise check at the hospital in May last year. The Thallakulam police had registered a case against 11 people, including the petitioner.
Apprehending arrest in the case, the petitioner in March filed an advance bail petition before the high court bench, which dismissed it. Following it, he filed the second petition.
When the matter came up for hearing before justice Velumani, the petitioner’s side argued that he is innocent.
The other accused have been granted anticipatory bail. The petitioner sought for transfer of the investigation to CB-CID and therefore the police have falsely implicated the petitioner, it was argued.
The government side said that the petitioner had filed a petition to the Supreme Court challenging the dismissal of the petition by the HC bench.
When the Supreme Court was not inclined to entertain the petition, the petitioner withdrew it. Thus, there is no change of circumstances to entertain the petitioner’s present petition.
