Asia’s biggest mental asylum, the Regional Mental Hospital, Thane, has always been in the news for the wrong reasons. Recently, a patient was beaten to death by the staff, following which a police complaint was filed by his kin. mid-day, while trying to uncover details about the case, stumbled upon far more sinister goings-on at the institution. Over a long investigation, these reporters found that the asylum has been admitting perfectly sane people by certifying them as unstable for as paltry a bribe as Rs 8,200.

Samiullah approached the hospital staff with a request to admit his ‘cousin’ Faizan. When the reporters followed the legitimate admission procedure, the staff refused to entertain them. However, after talking to a few staffers, the in-charge of a ward agreed to clear all hurdles in return for R8,200. Without making basic inquiries or demanding the patient’s medical history or documents, Faizan was admitted to the hospital after the bribe was paid. However, before he was about to be handed over to the ward boys, the duo left the hospital with damning evidence.