CBI registers case of misappropriation of funds against employee of ESIC hospital in Bengaluru

New Delhi, December 4

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case against an employee of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Hospital in Bengaluru who allegedly misappropriated around Rs 96.43 lakh.

The CBI has registered a case against Vasanth Kumar K, assistant, ESIC Hospital, Peenya in Bengaluru and others for misappropriation of funds. 

The incident came to light when ESIC regional director A K Sahu wrote a complaint to CBI on November 29 alleging misappropriation and accused Vasanth to be involved in it.

The FIR stated that 144 cases of fake sickness benefit payments bore his signature or handwriting. The inquiry revealed two of Vasanth’s brothers-in-law — Nandi Kishore Doddamani and Pawan Kumar Doddamani — were getting the money and were suspected to have helped Vasanth in these fraudulent payments. 

The CBI teams raided Vasanth’s residences in Hubballi and Bengaluru and found documents related to the case. It said the preliminary departmental inquiry conducted by ESIC vigilance (south zone), Chennai, revealed his involvement when he was posted at the ESIC branch office in Bommasandra between January 20, 2016 and September 17, 2019. In the said period, he had connived with others and misappropriated benefit payments to the tune of Rs 96.43 lakh.

The inquiry also found out that 22 misappropriated maternity benefit payment cases, Form 10 was issued under the signature of Vasanth which he admitted during the departmental inquiry.

The CBI investigation also revealed that the misappropriated benefit payments were credited to 72 illegal bank accounts. Around 16 mobile numbers were linked with the bank accounts that received the illegal payments. The mobile numbers that were furnished in the name of illegal beneficiaries and the fake employers were found to be linked to Vasanth Kumar.

The CBI is now probing the role of other persons involved in this case.