Pune: Aditya Birla Hospital CEO, GM, and Officials Face FIR for Obstructing Government Inspection; Hospital Denies Allegations

A case has been registered against five individuals, including the CEO and General Manager of Aditya Birla Hospital in Thergaon, for allegedly obstructing a government inspection team. The team was investigating complaints that financial weeker patients were not receiving benefits from government schemes.

Radheshyam Hanmantrao Padalwar (35) filed a complaint at Wakad Police Station, Pimpri Chinchwad police. Consequently, a case has been registered against the hospital’s CEO, Pamesh Gupta, General Manager Singh, Medical Social Workers Vaishali Pawar and Sanchit Suryavanshi, and an unknown individual under IPC sections 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 187 (Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance), 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), and 506 (Criminal intimidation).

According to the police, the complainant, who works as an inspector in the Public Trusts Registration Office (Charity Commissioner), inspected Aditya Birla Hospital on May 30 following a government directive. During the inspection, several issues were identified, and the hospital was asked to provide information on 19 specific points. This request was signed by the investigation committee chairperson, Yumna Jadhav, Deputy Secretary and Special Task Officer, and a representative from the state-level special assistance cell.

On June 25, the inspection team, including Yumna Jadhav, Deputy Secretary and Special Task Officer Sharad Ghavte, Special Assistance Cell Officer Nitin Gokhale from the Office of the Deputy Chief Minister, Assistant Chamber Officer (Secretary) from the Ministry of Law and Justice Siddharth Girme, and Rupesh Gaikwad from the Office of the Superintendent, Hospital Department, Charities and Commissioner Pune Division, visited Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital for further examination.

During the inspection, the hospital’s CEO Gupta, General Manager Singh, and Medical Social Workers Pawar and Suryavanshi allegedly obstructed the government officials by refusing to provide the necessary assistance and documents. An unknown woman also allegedly threatened the inspection team, questioning their authority to conduct the inspection at night and using intimidating language.

The police are conducting further investigations into the matter.

Pamesh Gupta, CEO of Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital, issued a statement: “On 25th June 2024, Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital (ABMH), Pune, received a visit from the Deputy Secretary/Special Charity Fund Scheme Inspection Committee Chairman from Mantralay, Mumbai. During the visit, the team presented a letter highlighting some issues related to the charity work being conducted at our hospital. The ABMH Administration, including the CEO, fully cooperated with the team from 4:00 pm onwards and submitted all the relevant documents to address these issues. Despite our full cooperation and submission of comprehensive documentation, the team continued to interrogate our staff, including female staff, until 10:00 pm. In light of these events, an FIR (No. 0754) has been lodged. We wish to clarify that at no point did we obstruct the official work. Our actions have consistently reflected our commitment to transparency and cooperation. We remain dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of compliance and quality in our healthcare services at ABMH. We trust that the inspection committee will review our submission fairly, acknowledging our dedication to compliance and excellence in healthcare. We are confident that a thorough review will demonstrate our adherence to all required protocols and our unwavering commitment to serving our community with integrity.”