The private contractors appointed to run the BMC’s jumbo COVID-19 centres manipulated the number of patients admitted for treatment to fraudulently obtain money from the civic body, suspect the ED. Previously, the agency had said that Lifeline Hospital that was operating four centres in the city took a payment of Rs 22 crore using the names of fake doctors.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) believes that certain civic officials were also involved in the scam. The agency is investigating the money laundering angle in the alleged jumbo centre scam case, which involves Lifeline Hospital Management Services (LHMS) that was awarded the contract to operate the jumbo centres.