Con men dupe Covid patients over beds, care

Con men are targeting helpless Covid-19 patients promising beds and treatment at government hospitals in the city.

The matter came to light when a person Krishna Reddy brought his mother Sugunamma, a Covid patient, to Nims Hospital in Panjagutta area of the city. There he met a person Prashanth, who promised that he will get Krishna Reddy’s mother treated, provided he was paid `1 lakh. Prashanth said he had to pay money to those who allot beds.

Since his mother's health was critical, Krishna Reddy fell into Prashanth’s trap and paid `1 lakh through

Google Pay and got his mother admitted. Subsequently, Prashanth demanded another `1 lakh for continuing the treatment. The con man then went on to say a normal treatment will cost `3 lakh to `4 lakh, while Krishna Reddy will have to pay `7 lakh in case Sugunamma requires oxygen bed with ventilator facility.

Suspecting something fishy, Krishna Reddy verified the admission register and found that only `1,000 had been recorded as the amount paid. There were no other receipts in the case sheet. The patient’s son then approached the NIMS Hospital medical superintendent Dr N. Satyanarayana and lodged a complaint.

Dr Satyanarayana ordered an internal inquiry during which it was found Prashanth is not an employee or in any way connected with NIMS. However, he seemed to have good contacts with some hospital staff. This way Prashanth had been making money and collecting huge amounts by providing patients admission and treatment at the hospital.

NIMS authorities then approached Panjagutta police of Hyderabad Commissionerate and lodged a formal complaint. A case has been booked under section 406 IPC (punishment for criminal breach of trust) and 420 IPC (cheating). It is suspected there could be more people operating like Prashanth.

Sugunamma is continuing to be treated in NPR D-Block of NIMS Hospital.