ED books Medanta Hospital MD Naresh Trehan in money laundering case

According to officials, the economic offences watchdog has registered an Enforcement Case Information Report against Trehan and 15 others under PMLA in connection with the case.

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has booked cardiologist and Medanta Medcity Hospital Managing Director Naresh Trehan under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with a case related to the allotment of land for Medanta Hospital.

According to officials, the economic offences watchdog has registered an Enforcement Case Information Report against Trehan and 15 others under PMLA in connection with the case.

The case was registered on the base of an FIR registered by Gurugram Police, an ED official told ANI on Wednesday.

The FIR was registered at Gurgaon Sadar police station at the behest of additional sessions judge Ashwani Kumar on the complaint of a Malibu Town resident named Raman Sharma. The FIR was registered under several relevant sections of the PMLA, the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).On Saturday, Gurugram Police booked Naresh Trehan and others for money laundering, corruption, criminal conspiracy, forgery and criminal breach of trust, among other charges, in connection with the case.

Land allotment to Medanta hospital legal; will cooperate with ED: Dr Trehan

Dr Naresh Trehan said he would cooperate with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in its money-laundering probe linked to alleged irregularities in land allotment to the Gurgaon-based super speciality facility.

In a statement, he denied the allegations that pertain to the land plot allotted 16 years ago to build the hospital.

"Everything about this land allotment, which was done through a public auction, is absolutely legal. The allegations in the complaint are nothing short of absurd. We have built one of the finest hospitals in this part of the world, and we are proud of the work we do," Trehan said.

He accused the complainant in the case, Raman Sharma, of harassment.

"This complaint is nothing but harassment by Raman Sharma, who has chosen to file this complaint while we are in the midst of a global pandemic."

"Despite being over 70 years of age, I continue to tend to my patients, even in the face of this pandemic, and at risk to myself. It is of grave concern that doctors and hospitals are having to bear the brunt of harassment, by people of dubious antecedents. (It) is a matter of grave concern and hurt," he said.

He alleged that Sharma "was a known extortionist masquerading as an RTI Activist".

"He (Sharma) has made completely false and baseless allegations. In fact, what has been overlooked is that Sharma had previously filed two cases, identical to this one in Delhi, one in the Patiala House Court and other before the Delhi High Court, which were dismissed as vague, unspecific and not even a single incident with sufficient detail has been mentioned in the entire complaint."

Dr Trehan alleged that after failing in the courts in Delhi, Sharma approached the district court in Gurgaon where he did not disclose that the matter had been fully investigated by the Economic Offence Wing at the instance of the ED and the allegations were found to be baseless after a full inquiry.

(With inputs from ANI And PTI)