ED raids on ‘Mazdoor Kutiya’, MLA says- even animal food is ordered through cheque

ED raids on Congress MLA: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday (August 6) raided the house of Congress MLA Raghubir Bali in Himachal Pradesh. The ED team raided the MLA’s house ‘Majdoor Kutiya’ located in Kangra, Himachal. Regarding the action of the investigating agency, Congress MLA Bali said that an account of everything present in his house has been kept and he even orders food for his pets through cheque.

However, this is not the first time that a raid has been conducted at the residence of a Congress MLA. Last week on Wednesday also, the ED team had raided Raghubir Bali’s house. Officials said that the Enforcement Directorate raided the premises of the Congress MLA, some private hospitals and their promoters as part of a money-laundering investigation related to the alleged Ayushman Bharat Yojana fraud. Apart from Shimla, Kangra, Una, Mandi and Kullu districts, raids were conducted at 19 locations in Delhi, Chandigarh and Punjab.

Raghubir Bali’s company was also raided

The ED raided the premises of Bali, MLA from Nagrota assembly seat, and Fortis Hospital in Kangra, which is promoted by Bali’s company Himachal Healthcare Private Limited. Raids were also conducted at Balaji Hospital in Kangra and the premises of its promoter Rajesh Sharma. Congress MLA Raghubir Bali is also the chairman of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation and vice-chairman of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Board. He is also very active on social media.

What is the reason for the raid on the Congress MLA?

In fact, the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau registered an FIR in January 2023 against Kiran Soni, Una-based Shri Banke Bihari Hospital and others for allegedly making fake Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana cards. When information about money laundering came to light in this, then the ED took charge of the case.

The ED has alleged that several medical bills were raised on such fake cards, causing loss to the state exchequer and the public. The total proceeds of crime in this case are estimated to be around Rs 25 crore. The agency found that a total of 8,937 Ayushman Bharat Golden Cards have been cancelled in the state so far for alleged violations of the Ayushman scheme. Banke Bihari Hospital, Fortis Hospital, Shri Balaji Hospital, Sood Nursing Home and Shri Harihar Hospital, among others, availed illegal benefits under the Ayushman scheme.

Also read: ED raids the house of Congress MLA Raghubir Singh Bali in Himachal, he said- ‘I am coming, investigation agency’s…’