The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi government has escalated its probe into alleged financial misappropriations and irregularities within the health infrastructure projects approved during the tenure of former health ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. In a significant development, ACB officials have formally lodged a case citing serious concerns over delayed timelines and substantial cost escalations across multiple projects.
According to an official statement released on Thursday, a staggering total of 24 hospital-related projects, comprising 11 greenfield and 13 brownfield developments, were sanctioned in the fiscal year 2018–19 with an estimated outlay of Rs 5,590 crore. However, these projects have been marred by prolonged delays and steep financial escalations, raising alarming suspicions of financial mismanagement and potential embezzlement of public funds.
Investigators highlighted glaring irregularities in the execution of essential healthcare infrastructure, including hospital buildings, polyclinics, and ICU facilities across Delhi. Shockingly, none of the projects were completed within their designated timelines, with several witnessing cost overruns amounting to hundreds of crores. This deviation from initial plans points towards suspected misappropriation on a significant scale.
The ACB initiated formal proceedings after obtaining requisite approvals under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The complaint, initially filed by BJP leader Vijender Gupta, underscored serious discrepancies in project execution and financial transparency.
Specifically, the Rs 1,125 crore ICU Hospital Project, encompassing seven pre-engineered facilities with a total capacity of 6,800 beds, remains only 50% complete despite an expenditure of Rs 800 crores and an initial six-month completion timeline. Similarly, unauthorized constructions were identified at government hospitals in Jwalapuri and Madipur, undertaken without proper approvals, further compounding the legal challenges faced by the accused.
The investigation revealed systemic failures and violations of tender conditions and financial protocols, including deliberate delays, inflated project costs, and the rejection of viable alternatives that could have ensured financial transparency. Furthermore, critical initiatives like the Health Information Management System (HIMS), aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and fiscal oversight, remain unimplemented despite earlier commitments.
The ACB's findings underscore serious lapses in governance and accountability within the health department, leading to substantial losses to the public exchequer and the creation of idle assets across the city.
Based on these damning revelations, the ACB has registered FIR No. 37/2025 dated 26.06.2025 under Sections 13(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, alongside Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code. The FIR names former ministers Saurabh Bhardwaj and Satyendar Jain, along with unnamed government officials and private contractors implicated in the alleged irregularities.
As the legal process unfolds, the case is expected to shed light on the extent of corruption within Delhi's health infrastructure projects and the accountability of public officials entrusted with safeguarding public funds and ensuring quality healthcare delivery.
This development marks a critical juncture in Delhi's political landscape, highlighting the urgent need for transparency and stringent oversight in public sector projects to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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