The Enforcement Directorate has raided the residence of AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj in connection with the investigation of the case related to hospital projects worth ₹ 5,590 crore. The raid was conducted in the previous government in connection with the alleged irregularities in the construction of hospitals in the national capital during his tenure as the Health Minister of Delhi. The central agency is allegedly searching at 12 places in Delhi in this regard.
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What is a hospital construction scam?
In 2018-19, the Delhi government approved projects worth Rs 5,590 crore for the construction of 24 hospitals. Construction of these hospitals including ICU was to be completed within six months, but work is incomplete even after three years.
Many projects are now under investigation for serious irregularities, such as:
Projects were to be completed in six months, but most are incomplete even after three years. Despite spending Rs 800 crore, only 50 percent of the work has been completed.
The cost of LNJP Hospital increased from Rs 488 crore to Rs 1,135 crore, while there was no significant progress in it. In many places construction work started without proper approval and the role of contractors came under suspicion.
Since 2016, it is alleged to have deliberately delayed in the Hospital Information Management System (HIMS) pending. Former Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj and Satyendra Jain are under investigation in this case. The ED has filed its ECIR (enforcement case information report) in the case.
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According to the official statement of ACB
According to the official statement of the Anti -Corruption Branch (ACB), a case has been registered against former Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj and AAP leader Satyendra Jain in relation to large -scale corruption in the health infrastructure projects of the Delhi government.
The ACB further stated, “24 hospital projects at a cost of ₹ 5,590 crore – 11 Greenfield and 13 Brownfield – were approved in 2018-19.
The ACB further stated that it received “heavy irregularities, unexplained delays and heavy misuse of money” regarding the construction of various hospitals, polyclinics and ICY wing across Delhi.
The ACB said, “A case was registered after receiving approval from the competent authority under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. On 22.08.2024, a detailed complaint was received from the then opposition leader of Delhi Vijendra Gupta, which exposed serious irregularities and suspected corruption in various health infrastructure projects under GNCTD.”
Another AAP leader on ED’s radar
This is not the first time an ED has been raided by an AAP leader. ED has also been raided on former ministers and leaders like Manish Sisodia, Satyendra Jain, Amanatullah Khan and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.