New Delhi (Agency): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a charge sheet against Maayank Tiwari, an Ahmedabad-based individual, for allegedly impersonating a high-ranking official of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The accusation involves him coercing an eye hospital chain to relinquish over Rs 16 crore owed by an Indore-based hospital amidst a legal dispute.
The CBI, after approximately three months of investigation, presented the charge sheet in a special CBI court. The probe included searches in Ahmedabad and Indore, resulting in the seizure of numerous documents.
Tiwari is accused of contacting and messaging the promoters of Dr Agarwal’s, a chain of eye hospitals, urging them to resolve a financial dispute with an Indore hospital. The Indore hospital reportedly owed over Rs 16 crore to the chain, stemming from a franchise agreement violation. The two doctors running the Indore-based hospital had initially joined Dr Agarwal’s franchise, leading to a payment exceeding Rs 16 crore.
However, the Indore hospital began to breach the terms of the agreement, which escalated into a dispute. Dr Agarwal’s sought the return of their funds and termination of the agreement. The matter was subsequently taken to the High Court, which appointed an arbitrator. The arbitrator’s interim injunction required the Indore hospital to deposit Rs 16.43 crore within four weeks.
During the dispute, the Dr Agarwal’s promoters reportedly received calls and messages from Tiwari, instructing them to disregard the owed amount and settle the issue with the Indore hospital’s doctors.
Upon learning of these occurrences, the PMO promptly directed the CBI to investigate the suspected impersonation. The PMO, in its complaint to the CBI, stated, “Prima facie, this is a case of impersonation of a PMO official and misuse of the name of the PMO, since neither this individual nor the professed designation exists in this office.” The charge against Tiwari thus revolves around the alleged misuse of the PMO’s name and the impersonation of a PMO official.