Gardener At MCD Office Forges Delhi CMO's Letter, Dupe Patients On Name Of Free Treatment In Private Hospitals; Arrested

In a shocking incident, the Delhi Police have arrested a gardener, employed on contract with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, for duping poor patients using a forged letter from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

ThHow was he caught?

The scam came to light after Maharaja Agrasen Hospital in Delhi received a letter, directing free treatment of a patient named Shyam Shankar under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category.

The hospital also received a phone call from someone identifying himself as Balbir Singh Rathee from the CM Office. Rathee asked the hospital to proceed with the treatment.

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Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Raja Banthia said that the official grew suspicious as the letter contained spelling mistakes, inconsistent fonts, and improper alignment.

The hospital officials wrote an email to the CMO to seek confirmation. The Officer of Special Duty of the Chief Minister, SC Vashishtha, filed a complaint with the Civil Lines Police Station.

The patient and his wife told the police that they got the letter from one Sonu. The police team traced the phone number to the Karol Bagh area, where Sonu was employed as a contractual gardener in the MCD office.

On October 29, the team raided the location but Sonu fled, leaving his bag behind. The police tracked him to Tagore Garden, eventually arresting him the next day.

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How he duped people?

Speaking about what Sonu told police, the DCP said, "During interrogation, Sonu revealed that he had found an original CM Office letter in the MCD's dak section a few months ago and decided to use it to create forged copies to earn money".

He targeted poor patients outside the private hospitals, who could not afford the high-cost treatment. He used to promise them free admission under the ESW category through CM Office for Rs 5,000 per case.

Sonu used a bike with a fake registration plate to avoid being traced, police said.

(With PTI Inputs)