Chennai: A 24-year-old female staff member at a private hospital in Chennai's Anna Nagar area has been arrested for allegedly embezzling Rs 52 lakh from the hospital over a two-year period. The Central Crime Branch of Avadi City Police made the arrest, charging her with financial misconduct. The woman, who worked as a cashier, allegedly misappropriated the funds from the institution located in Anna Nagar West Extension.
Aashara Hospital, A private fertility hospital in Chennai's Anna Nagar West Extension, managed by experienced doctors Dr. B Mythili and Dr. Balaji, employed M Sowmya, a 24-year-old cashier from Thiruvarur district. Both doctors are residents of Metrozone Flats, Chennai, have successfully operated the hospital for nearly a decade.
A private fertility hospital in Chennai was rocked by a financial scandal after patients reported discrepancies in their payments. Dr. B Mythili, the hospital's owner, launched an investigation, uncovering a substantial irregularity. The probe revealed that M Sowmya, a 24-year-old cashier from Tiruvarur district, had allegedly embezzled Rs 52 lakh by redirecting patient payments into her personal bank account.
The probe revealed that M Sowmya, a 24-year-old cashier from Tiruvarur district, had allegedly embezzled Rs 52 lakh by redirecting patient payments into her personal bank account
M Sowmya, employed in the billing and cash section since 2021, had gained her employers' trust and was handling accounts independently. However, an internal audit exposed her misconduct, showing she had manipulated patients into paying via her personal QR code, failing to record transactions in the hospital register.
Dr. Mythili filed a complaint with the Avadi Central Crime Branch in September, leading to M Sowmya's arrest. Aashara Hospitals, operated by Dr. Mythili and her husband Dr. Balaji for nine years, cooperated fully with the investigation.
The incident began to unravel when a patient reported M Sowmya insisting on cash payments instead of online transactions. Dr. Mythili's review of the bills confirmed the swindling, prompting swift action. The Avadi City Police's Central Crime Branch arrested M Sowmya, bringing the alleged misappropriation to light.
Following a complaint, Chennai police launched an investigation and swiftly traced the suspicious transactions, leading to the arrest of M Sowmya, a cashier at a private fertility hospital, in the Kannammapet locality. Authorities continue to investigate the full scope of the fraud.
The hospital management initially suspected foul play in May and discovered discrepancies in patient records, prompting an internal audit. The audit revealed M Sowmya had been embezzling funds since February 2022, just over a year into her employment. She allegedly deceived patients by claiming the hospital's QR code wasn't working, demanding cash payments or providing her personal QR code instead.
M Sowmya's fraudulent activities, including falsifying accounts and swindling over Rs 52 lakh, came to light during the investigation. Avadi City Police's Central Crime Branch arrested her and produced her before a magistrate, who remanded her to judicial custody.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities aim to ensure justice is served and patients affected by M Sowmya's misconduct receive compensation and accountability.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Sai Sindhuja K/MSM)