Ahmedabad Civil Hospital Liquor Permit Scam Swells to ₹60 Lakh

Ahmedabad: While police await the report of a five-member inquiry committee probing the liquor permit scam at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, the alleged misappropriation has risen to ₹55–60 lakh, sources said.

The amount was reportedly siphoned off within three to four months, with the probe likely to uncover a larger scam involving key officials. The committee is examining accounts from January to March 2026, where discrepancies of ₹55–60 lakh have been detected.

Investigations reveal that a senior clerk and two outsourced staff allegedly collected cash from applicants, issued receipts with fake online transaction numbers, and diverted the funds instead of depositing them in the Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS) account.

Sources said the scale of irregularities has surprised the panel, with around 265 cash receipts found unaccounted for. The total scam could reach ₹1.5–2 crore, they added.

Civil Hospital Superintendent Dr Rakesh Joshi said the report will be submitted to police within a day or two.

Officials warned that a deeper probe could expose a much larger fraud, as the accused had been working for two to three years.

Modus operandi: Applicants paid ₹25,000 for new permits and ₹20,000 for renewals via QR-based online payment. However, the accused allegedly collected cash, issued fake receipts, and misappropriated the funds.