The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) is set to investigate former Delhi Health Ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain over alleged irregularities in hospital construction projects. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has granted approval for the ACB to conduct an inquiry under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. This decision follows a recommendation from Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) V.K. Saxena on May 6, 2025.
The investigation stems from a complaint filed in August 2024 by BJP MLA Vijender Gupta, who alleged corruption and mismanagement within Delhi's health department during Bharadwaj and Jain's tenures. Gupta claimed that significant financial irregularities plagued multiple healthcare infrastructure projects.
The core of the allegations revolves around substantial delays and cost overruns in numerous hospital projects. According to the complaint, in 2018-19, 24 hospital projects, including 11 greenfield and 13 brownfield developments, were sanctioned with a total budget of ₹5,590 crore. However, these projects have faced "inexplicable delays," suggesting potential fund siphoning. Further, ₹1,125 crore was sanctioned in September 2021 for constructing seven ICU hospitals with a capacity of 6,800 beds, intended to be completed within six months using pre-engineered structures. As of 2024, only 50% of the work had been completed, despite ₹800 crore being spent.
Specific projects under scrutiny include the expansion of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital. The initial budget for a new block was ₹465.52 crore, but the cost has reportedly tripled to ₹1,125 crore in just four years. Additionally, a project to develop 94 polyclinics with a budget of ₹168.53 crore is under investigation for procedural and financial irregularities. Only 52 polyclinics were built, and the cost escalated to ₹220 crore.
The ACB's preliminary investigation revealed consistent inflation of project costs, deliberate delays, rejection of cost-effective solutions, misallocation of funds, and the creation of idle assets. The ACB described these issues as "tactics and patterns of misconduct and corrupt activities" that resulted in significant losses to the government. The Vigilance Department (DoV) sought comments from the Health and Family Welfare Department and the Public Works Department (PWD) before the ACB was given the go-ahead to proceed with the investigation. While the Health Department had no objections, the PWD recommended a comprehensive investigation into the construction of ICU hospitals, polyclinics, and the other 24 hospitals, with a focus on identifying corruption, irregularities, and legal violations.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has strongly denied the allegations, dismissing them as politically motivated. AAP leaders accuse the BJP and the LG of "weaponizing" routine project delays and turning governance into a "laughing stock." Saurabh Bharadwaj stated that the hospital construction sanctions were given in 2017-18 and 2021, with estimates approved at the same time. He claims he became Health Minister in 2023 and that no paperwork regarding costs or updated estimates ever reached him, nor did he approve any monetary escalations. AAP has also questioned why the central government's projects are not being investigated, pointing to delays and cost overruns in projects such as the Bullet Train.
