File Photo- CBI
The CBI has submitted a charge sheet against Maayank Tiwari, an Ahmedabad-based individual accused of impersonating a high-ranking official from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Tiwari allegedly used this false authority to pressure an eye hospital chain into forfeiting more than Rs 16 crore owed to them by an Indore-based hospital entangled in a legal dispute, as per officials familiar with the matter.
Following a comprehensive investigation lasting nearly three months, the CBI filed its initial charge sheet in the case before a special CBI court. In October, the agency conducted searches at various locations, including Ahmedabad and Indore, seizing numerous documents in the process.
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According to details presented in the charge sheet, Tiwari purportedly made calls and sent messages from his mobile phone, pressuring the promoters of Dr Agarwal’s – a chain of eye hospitals – to resolve a dispute involving the Indore-based hospital, which allegedly owed Rs 16 crore to the hospital chain.
Reports suggest that Dr Agarwal had agreed with two doctors managing the Indore hospital to join their franchise, for which an amount exceeding Rs 16 crore was paid. However, the Indore hospital allegedly breached the terms of the agreement, leading to a disagreement. Subsequently, Dr Agarwal sought reimbursement of their funds and termination of the agreement.
The issue was taken to the High Court, which appointed an arbitrator to mediate. In an interim directive, the arbitrator instructed the Indore hospital to deposit Rs 16.43 crore within four weeks.
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Amidst the dispute, the promoters of Dr Agarwal allegedly received communications from Tiwari, urging them to drop the supposed dues and resolve the matter with the doctors managing the Indore hospital.
Upon discovering the situation, the Prime Minister’s Office swiftly alerted the CBI to investigate the purported impersonation of a PMO official.
“The apparent misuse of the PMO’s name and impersonation of a PMO official is evident in this case, as neither this individual nor the claimed designation exists within this office,” stated the PMO in a complaint filed with the CBI.
