Bengaluru: The Bengaluru police’s Central Crime Branch (CCB) has uncovered a fraudulent racket involving the creation of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) cards for ineligible individuals through fake companies and fabricated job certificates.
Arrest of Key Suspects
Four individuals have been arrested in connection with the scam:
- Sridhar (42): A retired Armyman.
- Ramesh B K (54): The alleged mastermind who initiated the scheme in 2018.
- Chandra Kumar S H (37) and Shivaganga (38): Employees in various Bengaluru hospitals.
Police revealed that operations halted during the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed in 2022 when Sridhar joined Ramesh.
Modus Operandi
An ESIC card, which provides medical benefits at ESIC-affiliated hospitals, is typically issued to workers earning below ₹21,000 per month. The accused allegedly exploited this scheme by:
- Setting up fake companies to meet eligibility criteria.
- Fabricating job certificates for individuals.
- Issuing 869 fraudulent ESIC cards.
- Charging beneficiaries ₹500 monthly as “account charges.”
The racket primarily targeted underprivileged patients in private hospitals, offering them ESIC cards at nominal fees.
Ongoing Investigation
Police are investigating the full extent of the operation, including potential collaborators and the number of hospitals involved.