Srinagar, July 10, KDC: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered a fresh high-level inquiry into the alleged irregularities in cardiac procedures performed under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) SEHAT scheme at Government Medical College (GMC), Anantnag, constituting an independent four-member committee to examine the findings of an earlier expert investigation as well as the written defence submitted by suspended cardiologist Dr. Syed Maqbool Ahmad Shah before taking a final decision in the disciplinary proceedings against him.
The latest development marks the next stage in a case that has triggered one of the most closely watched investigations into alleged medical and financial irregularities under the PM-JAY SEHAT scheme in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Government Order No. 540-JK (HME) of 2026 dated July 9, the Health and Medical Education Department has constituted an inquiry committee headed by Prof. (Dr.) Khalid Mohi-ud-Din of Government Medical College, Srinagar. The committee also comprises Prof. (Dr.) Dharminder Kumar and Prof. (Dr.) Sanjeev Bhat of Government Medical College, Jammu, along with Dr. Misbah Samad, State Nodal Officer of the State Health Agency, J&K.
The committee has been directed to examine the findings and recommendations of the earlier expert committee that investigated the cardiology cases, scrutinise the written statement of defence and any supplementary submissions made by Dr. Shah, review all relevant medical records, package selection details, pacemaker implantation records, procurement and billing documents and other supporting evidence, and assess the financial implications arising out of the procedures and claims raised under the PM-JAY SEHAT scheme. It has also been tasked with verifying whether the procedures performed were technically appropriate in light of national clinical guidelines and package norms before submitting a comprehensive report with specific findings and recommendations to the Government within 15 days.
The Government has further directed the State Health Agency and Government Medical College, Anantnag, to extend full cooperation to the committee and provide all records, documents, technical inputs and logistical support required for the inquiry.
The order comes after the Health and Medical Education Department initiated major penalty proceedings against Dr. Shah and subsequently placed him under suspension following an anti-fraud investigation into cardiac procedures performed at GMC Anantnag.
The controversy first surfaced after the State Anti Fraud Unit received complaints regarding alleged out-of-pocket expenditure by beneficiaries under the PM-JAY SEHAT scheme, which is designed to provide completely cashless treatment in empanelled hospitals. A subsequent audit reportedly flagged unusual patterns in claims relating to advanced cardiac procedures performed in the Cardiology Department.
Based on those findings, the State Health Agency referred the matter for an independent technical evaluation by experts from Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura. The expert committee examined a sample of Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing procedures and concluded that several cases lacked adequate clinical justification, leading the State Health Agency to reject multiple claims.
Relying on those findings, the Government served Dr. Shah with a charge memorandum alleging “serious data falsification and financial fraud.” The memorandum alleged that certain cardiac procedures had been uploaded under package codes different from the procedures actually performed, that invasive interventions were undertaken without adequate clinical indication, that procurement protocols were bypassed and that beneficiaries were allegedly made to incur out-of-pocket expenditure despite the PM-JAY SEHAT scheme being cashless. The Government also alleged that approved procurement channels were bypassed in favour of private vendors.
Dr. Shah, however, publicly rejected the allegations through sections of the media, maintaining that the procedures performed by him were medically appropriate and in accordance with accepted cardiology practice. He questioned the conclusions drawn during the audit and asserted that his clinical decisions had been based on patient-specific medical requirements. (KDC)
