NEW DELHI: The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has registered a case against former Delhi health ministers Saurabh Bhardwaj and Satyendar Jain over alleged corruption in health infrastructure projects under the Delhi government.
The FIR, filed under Section 13(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, along with IPC Sections 409 (Criminal breach of trust by public servant or by banker, merchant or agent), 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 120-B Punishment of criminal conspiracy), names Bhardwaj, Jain, unidentified government officials and private contractors. Joint Commissioner of Police (ACB) Madhur Verma said the case stems from an August 2022 complaint by then-Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta, flagging serious irregularities in several public health infrastructure projects.
The complaint alleged budget manipulation, fund misuse and collusion with private contractors. “During 2018–19, 24 hospital projects worth Rs 5,590 crore were sanctioned, but most remain incomplete with substantial cost escalations. Similarly, an ICU hospital project of Rs 1,125 crore for seven pre-engineered facilities remains only 50% complete after three years and Rs 800 crore spent, despite a six-month timeline,” Verma said in a statement.
Verification revealed unauthorised construction by M/s Parnika Commercial and Estate Pvt Ltd at Jwalapuri and M/s Ramacivil India Construction Pvt Ltd at Madipur without requisite approvals.
The Madipur project, due in November 2022, remains abandoned. ICU hospitals executed by M/s SAM India Buildwell Pvt Ltd saw over 100% cost escalation, while the new block at LNJP Hospital, handled by M/s Swadeshi Civil Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, saw costs rise from Rs 488 crore to Rs 1,135 crore over four years with the structure still incomplete, Verma said.
Only 52 of 94 planned polyclinics were built, while costs rose from Rs 168 crore to Rs 220 crore. The Health Information Management System (HIMS), announced in 2016–17, remains unimplemented, with a cost-effective NIC solution reportedly rejected without reason.
AAP criticised the FIR’s secrecy, with Bhardwaj calling it a “mockery of law” for naming only two ministers while sparing officials responsible for execution. “In criminal cases, it is standard practice to release the FIR to the media.
The L-G and ACB are deliberately withholding the FIR because it would expose the mockery of law being orchestrated by the BJP government,” Bharadwaj said in a statement. Jain questioned the timeline, noting the projects predate Bhardwaj’s tenure.