Inquiry committee submits report on VS illegal trials to Ahmedabad municipal commissioner
Ahmedabad: A five-member AMC committee completed its investigation into the alleged illegal clinical trials at VS Hospital and submitted a report, implicating top doctors in a multi-crore scam.
Between 2021 and 2025, 58 unauthorized trials were conducted on over 500 patients in complete violation of rules, with payments from pharmaceutical companies routed to the accounts of senior doctors, instead of the hospital, said sources citing the report.
The panel, led by the head of the AMC vigilance department, has reportedly recommended disciplinary action against all responsible parties. The municipal commissioner is now reviewing the report to decide whether a police complaint should be filed.
Sources citing the inquiry report, which includes a 30-page summary and 500 pages of annexures, said that the key accused include then superintendent Dr Manish Patel, clinical head Dr Devang Rana, and contract doctor Dhaivat Shukla. "The trio allegedly siphoned off between Rs 17 crore to Rs 20 crore from pharmaceutical companies into their personal and family accounts. In some cases, money was also deposited into the accounts of unrelated individuals," revealed a source close to the development.
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The scam came to light after Rajshree Kesari, a Congress councillor from Chandkheda, filed a complaint, alleging that doctors were conducting illegal trials and depositing the money into private bank accounts. After conducting a preliminary investigation, the municipal commissioner then formed a special five-member inquiry panel on April 19. However, after questions were raised about one panel member's credibility, AMC's in-charge health officer Dr Bhavin Solanki was included in the committee.
The probe was overseen by Hina Bhathawala, AMC's vigilance department chief. Earlier, eight doctors, including Dr Rana, were suspended, and a notice was served to the retired hospital superintendent. The committee also recorded statements from Dr Patel, Dr Rana, and other implicated personnel.
A source, citing the inquiry report, said, "Over four years, 58 pharmaceutical companies conducted various unregulated vaccine and drug clinical research on more than 500 patients.
The companies legally paid Rs 17 to 20 crore, none of which reached the hospital's official accounts. Instead, they were deposited into accounts belonging to Dr Patel, Dr Rana, Dr Shukla, their spouses, and even family HUF accounts.
Some payments were allegedly made in cash.
"The clinical trials were allegedly conducted using the approval of a private ethical committee instead of seeking clearance from the AMC, the hospital's management board, or the Medical Education Trust."
Documents pertaining to these trials were either poorly maintained or deliberately concealed, said sources, drawing from the report. Despite a claim from Dr Patel that Rs 6 crore was deposited into the hospital account, the committee found no supporting documentation.
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