Gulriha (Gorakhpur): A shocking racket involving the illegal referral of patients from BRD Medical College to private hospitals for hefty commissions has been exposed. Police have arrested six individuals, including a government ambulance driver, an EMT, a private hospital manager, and a private ambulance driver. Investigations reveal that the group routinely misled patients and their families by exaggerating medical conditions—going so far as to attempt shifting a child who had already been declared dead to a private hospital under the pretext of “critical care.”
According to police, the alleged kingpin of the network is Rahul Sharma, a history-sheeter from Sikriganj. He reportedly posed as a private hospital manager and coordinated closely with government ambulance staff. Other accused arrested in the case include Amit Nishad (ambulance driver), Sanjay Yadav (EMT), Imran Ali (private hospital manager), Deepak Chauhan (private ambulance driver), and Vikas Pandey (associate). During interrogation, the accused admitted to being involved in such activities for a considerable period.
FCRF Returns With CDPO, Its Premier Data Protection Certification for Privacy Professionals
The incident dates back to April 14, when a critically ill child was brought from Siddharthnagar to BRD Medical College via a 108 ambulance service. After medical examination in the pediatric department, doctors declared the child dead. However, the accused allegedly misled the grieving family by claiming that the child was still in a “critical condition” and required immediate admission to a private hospital for better treatment.
In a state of panic, the family believed the claims. The ambulance staff then contacted Rahul Sharma, who arranged admission at a private hospital located on Fatima Road. Shortly afterward, a private ambulance driver arrived and began preparations to shift the child. However, suspicion arose among bystanders, who promptly informed the medical outpost police. The police team intervened on the spot, foiled the attempt, and detained the accused.
Further investigation has revealed that the racket had been operational for a long time, with a well-organized chain linking government hospitals to private facilities. Government ambulance personnel played a crucial role by instilling fear and confusion among patients’ families, ultimately directing them toward private hospitals. In return, they received commissions ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 per patient, while the kingpin allegedly charged between ₹50,000 and ₹60,000 per case.
Sources indicate that the network extended beyond Gorakhpur, with links found in Deoria, Sant Kabir Nagar, Siddharthnagar, and even stretching into Bihar and Nepal. Private ambulance drivers were also integrated into the system, facilitating the transfer of patients from one hospital to another. In several instances, patients were shifted unnecessarily, putting their lives at significant risk.
Given the seriousness of the case, a formal complaint was filed by the medical college administration, leading to the registration of an FIR and the initiation of a detailed investigation. Preliminary findings have exposed disturbing layers of corruption within the healthcare system, highlighting how deeply entrenched such referral rackets have become. The case underscores not only ethical violations but also a blatant disregard for human life.
Experts note that such organized networks exploit fear and trust, particularly in high-stress medical situations. When critical healthcare services are manipulated for financial gain, it reflects a dangerous systemic failure. Beyond financial exploitation, such practices pose severe threats to patient safety and public trust in medical institutions.
Police are currently searching for other members linked to the network, and officials believe that further revelations may emerge in the coming days. Authorities are now working to dismantle the entire chain to ensure strict action and prevent such exploitation from continuing within the healthcare system.
