ED raids ex-health minister Saurabh Bhardwaj in Rs 5,590 cr medical graft case

The ED raided AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj’s residence in connection with a alleged ₹5,590 crore hospital construction scam. The 2018 project, meant to upgrade 24 hospitals in 6 months, remains incomplete after 3 years amid allegations of cost escalation and delays.

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday morning carried out a raid operation at the residence of Saurabh Bhardwaj, a prominent leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and former health minister in Delhi.

The action was taken in connection with the investigation of an alleged hospital construction scam in Delhi. Former health minister Saurabh Bhardwaj and another former minister in the Delhi government, Satyendra Jain, are at the center of the investigation. The raid was conducted after the ED had already registered a counterpart (ECIR) to start the investigation into the entire case.

ED raids house of Delhi AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj; case related to hospital construction scam. pic.twitter.com/hOmWoWFRbM

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What is the 5,590 crore hospital scam?

The case is related to the construction and upgrading of hospitals under the Delhi government. In the year 2018-19, the Delhi government had sanctioned a huge amount of about Rs 5,590 crore for the construction and upgradation of 24 hospitals in the capital. As per the plan, the construction of these hospitals, especially the critical facilities like the ICU, was to be completed within a mere 6 months. But surprisingly, even after 3 years, most of the projects are incomplete, and serious irregularities have been alleged.

Major irregularities exposed in the scam

Several serious flaws and allegations have come to light in this entire case:

Misuse of time and money: The projects were to be completed in 6 months, but even after 3 years, most of the work is incomplete. Despite spending Rs 800 crore, only 50% of the work has been completed.

Excessive cost escalation: The cost of some projects, like LNJP hospital, increased from Rs 488 crore to Rs 1,135 crore without any concrete progress, which is a huge irregularity.

Work without approval: It is alleged that construction work was started at many places without proper approval, and the role of contractors selected for these works was also found suspicious.

Deliberate delay: Important projects like the Hospital Information Management System (HIMS), which has been pending since 2016, are being accused of deliberate delay.

Overall, this is a case of serious misuse of public money, administrative failure, and possible corruption, due to which the citizens of Delhi are not able to get better health facilities. This ED raid is a part of this investigation.