Hamidia hospital staff provide patient information to fraudsters:Commission of 20% paid across 3 key departments; 7 suspected, FIR registered

Cases of digital fraud and phishing are common, but a new pattern of deception has emerged targeting relatives of patients admitted to Hamidia Hospital. Since January, more than 10 people have fallen victim to this scam. Only three victims approached Kohefiza police station and filed complaints of fraud totaling over ₹30,000. Shockingly, hospital staff were reportedly providing patient details and relatives’ mobile numbers to the main accused, Jitendra Khagre. He posed as a doctor, promised better treatment, and then sent QR codes to collect money into his account. On Friday, the Crime Branch arrested Jitendra Khagre, a resident of Betul, and handed him over to Kohefiza police. According to the station, he was arrested from Indore on Thursday night. An FIR has been registered against him for impersonating a doctor and committing fraud. Staff received 20% commission Security agency sources revealed that the scam network extended across three major departments of Hamidia Hospital: Obstetrics, Paediatrics, and Emergency Medicine. Staff providing information to the fraudster were paid 20% commission. 7 staff members suspected to be involved Investigations indicate that about seven hospital staff members were linked to the network. Their identities are not yet confirmed, but it is clear that staff were sharing patient information solely for commission. The information shared included: Hospital management has stated that any staff identified will be immediately removed, and Kohefiza police will take action once their identities are confirmed. Jitendra met the victim posing as a doctor One victim told police that their child had a heart defect and was admitted to Hamidia Hospital. Jitendra met them at the hospital, posing as a doctor. Audio recordings of conversations between Jitendra and victims have also emerged. In one, he demanded money, promising urgent tests and even arranging a free ambulance, insisting the payment be sent immediately via QR code. Victims transferred amounts in multiple instalments before realising it was a scam. Conversation recording also surfaced After FIR was registered against the accused, the audio of conversation between the victim’s family and him has surfaced. Jitendra- Give ten thousand rupees…will get the echo done with this. Child’s father- ICU people are saying that test will only happen after one month. Number won’t come before that. Jitendra- Leave all that, do my work. I’ll get it done immediately. Will even support you later. Will arrange free ambulance for going home. Transfer the money to my number by 1:30. Tell me if you want me to send the QR code. Child’s father- Don’t worry, the amount will reach you before 1:30, I am getting the money transferred from my brother’s number. “Mother and Child Are in Danger, Send Money Immediately” The accused used a cunning method to defraud relatives of patients admitted to Hamidia Hospital. Fraudsters would call while posing as hospital doctors, claiming the patient’s condition was critical and demanding immediate payment. Nitesh Vishwakarma, a resident of Nehru Nagar, Bhopal, was also targeted in this scam. His wife, Kiran, had been admitted to Hamidia Hospital during her pregnancy. After her operation, Nitesh received a call from an unknown number. The caller claimed to be a Hamidia doctor and warned that both mother and child were in danger, insisting that money be sent immediately for better treatment. Trapped in the Scam, Over ₹30,000 Extorted from Three Victims Worried, Nitesh Vishwakarma first transferred ₹8,000 to the UPI account provided by the fraudsters. A few days later, another call claimed his wife’s condition was serious, and they extorted an additional ₹2,999. When the calls stopped, Nitesh realised he had been defrauded. Investigations revealed that Vinod Ahirwar and Sanjay Batela were similarly targeted. From just these three victims alone, the scammers managed to extort over ₹30,000. Hospital Superintendent Urges Immediate Complaints if Money Is Demanded Hamidia Hospital Superintendent Dr. Sunit Tandon appealed to patients and their relatives to remain vigilant against fraud. He advised that anyone targeted in the hospital’s name should immediately call the 1930 helpline. Dr. Tandon clarified that anyone claiming to be associated with the hospital and demanding money or sending QR codes should be reported immediately to the hospital’s security supervisor. At Hamidia Hospital, all patients receive treatment on a priority basis. No doctor or staff member requests extra money from patients or relatives. Any demand for payment in the name of treatment is entirely fraudulent, and such incidents must be reported immediately.