CHANDIGARH – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has registered a formal case against a Medical Officer at the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) Polyclinic in Panipat, Haryana. The official is accused of running a bribe-for-referral scheme, allegedly demanding kickbacks from a private hospital in exchange for referring ex-servicemen for medical treatment.
The Allegations: A ‘Rate Card’ for Patients
The investigation was triggered by a complaint from Dr. Sudeep Sangwan, Director of the Ayushman Bhav Health Institute Multispecialty Hospital & Trauma Centre in Panipat.
According to the FIR, Dr. Naveet Kumar, the Medical Officer at the ECHS Polyclinic, had been demanding illegal gratification since October 2025. The complaint alleges that when the hospital refused to pay, Dr. Kumar intentionally reduced the number of patient referrals to the facility to exert pressure on the administration.
In a meeting held in December 2025, Dr. Kumar reportedly demanded a lump sum of ₹3.50 lakh for referrals already made. Shockingly, the CBI’s verification process revealed that the doctor had also fixed a “commission” rate of ₹3,500 per patient for all future referrals.
CBI Verification and Recorded Proof
Following the complaint filed on January 31, 2026, the CBI conducted a discreet verification. Investigators obtained recorded conversations between Dr. Sudeep Sangwan, Dr. Naveet Kumar, and a common acquaintance, Naval Commander (Retd.) Gulab Singh, who had attempted to mediate the situation.
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The transcripts included in the FIR provide a stark look at the negotiations:
- The Debt: Dr. Kumar is recorded insisting on the “balance” of the ₹3.50 lakh demand.
- The Payment: The complainant noted that ₹2,00,000 had already been paid to the doctor through Commander Singh a few days prior to the formal complaint.
- The New Rate: The conversations confirm the agreement of ₹3,500 per patient for upcoming referrals starting from February 2026.
The complaint also noted that Dr. Kumar claimed the bribe money was intended for himself and another Medical Officer, Dr. Geeta Kukkal, although the FIR primarily focuses on Dr. Kumar’s actions.
Legal Action
The CBI registered the Regular Case (RC0052026A0001) on February 6, 2026. Dr. Naveet Kumar has been booked under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), which pertains to public servants taking undue advantage.
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The investigation has been entrusted to Inspector Arun Ahlawat of the CBI ACB, Chandigarh. The agency is expected to further probe the extent of the referral racket and whether other officials at the ECHS Polyclinic were involved in the conspiracy.