Hospital owner, kin booked for threatening, obstructing I-T search op

The Ludhiana police on Wednesday registered a case against the owner of city’s prominent Sofat Hospital and his family for threatening and obstructing Income Tax officials during a search operation on its business and residential premises conducted in December 2024.

The suspects were identified as Jagdish Rai Sofat, his wife Dr Rama Sofat, their son Dr Amit Sofat and his wife Dr Ruchika Sofat, all residents of the college road, here, and Dr Sumit Sofat, a resident of the Hira Singh road, Civil Lines. The suspects are running Dr Rama Sofat Hospital and Ruchi Test Tube Baby Centre located on the college road. A case was registered on the complaint of Deputy Director, Income Tax, Investigation-1, Anurag Dhindsa, under Sections 218 (Resistance to the taking of property by the lawful authority of a public servant), 221 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public function), 222 (omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance), 224 (threat of injury to public servant ), 351 (criminal intimidation) and Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

The FIR (the copy of which is with The Tribune) states that search operations were conducted on December 18, 2024. Officers who conducted the operation had lodged a complaint with the senior I-T official against the suspects who further lodged a complaint against them with the police for action.

An I-T official alleged in the complaint that “during the search operations, I was subjected to repeated threats by Dr Jagdish Sofat and Dr Amit Sofat. They threatened me with dire consequences if the search is conducted and continued on their premises. Specifically, Amit said he would file false cases of sexual harassment against the search team and claimed that he had strong ties with the local police and judicial bureaucracy and threatened that as a doctor he could easily fabricate situations suggesting bodily harm to himself and his family, including his wife and mother. The threats and coercion were given for causing hindrance in the smooth discharge of his duties and obstructing the search operation. The occupants of the premises also refused to provide and sign the statements initially that could reveal these facts”.

The I-T officer alleged, “During the search operation, Dr Amit, Dr Ruchika and Dr Rama insisted on visiting the hospital to ostensibly treat their patients and they were never interrupted in their duties. The attitude and tone of Dr Amit and Dr Ruchika were not cooperative and they were not giving direct reply even to simple questions regarding the location of keys of locked room and drawers. Their response was elusive and they were not disclosing the password for the Marg ERP software. Rather the Sofats had become combative and started making veiled threats and unfounded allegations. They even tried to intimidate employees by forcibly entering and interrupting statement of a key employee. When Dr Ruchika was requested for keys of a room attached to her cabin, where unaccounted costly IVF injections were stored, she got infuriated and alleged without any basis that we are using abusive language for the lady. A lady constable, a female nurse and many other witnesses were present at the spot that time”.