ED : AAP Leader Saurabh Bharadwaj ₹5,590 Crore ‘Hospital Scam’

• ED raids 13 locations linked to AAP minister Saurabh Bharadwaj in connection with a ₹5,590 crore hospital scam case.

• Investigators allege irregularities in hospital construction contracts, pointing to massive corruption.

• AAP leaders hit back, calling the raids “politically motivated” and part of a larger vendetta campaign.

• The high-profile probe adds fresh heat to the ongoing tussle between the Centre and the Delhi government.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 26thAugust -In a shocking turn of events, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today conducted raids at the home of top Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, in connection with an alleged multi-thousand crore “hospital construction scam.” The raids, as part of a broader crackdown, were carried out at least 13 places in the national capital.

The Alleged ₹5,590 Crore Scam

According to ED sources, the case is related to projects of ₹5,590 crore sanctioned by the Delhi government in 2018-19 for building 24 hospitals. The projects, part of an effort to enhance healthcare infrastructure, have now been put under scrutiny for huge financial irregularities.

Though promised to be completed quickly, the ICU hospitals which were to open within six months are still incomplete even after three years. Alarming enough, almost ₹800 crore has been spent already, and work is only half done.

One of the most striking red flags arose in the case of LNJP Hospital, where the reported cost escalated from ₹488 crore to ₹1,135 crore without matching progress on the ground.

Suspicious Contractor Role

The investigators have raised red flags over suspicious transactions with contractors. Reports indicate that allegedly work had begun on various construction sites without necessary approvals, leaving questions regarding how money was sanctioned and disbursed.

Even the highly touted Hospital Information Management System (HIMS), first announced as early as 2016, is still held back in limbo. Allegations state that the delays could have been intentionally planned to accommodate irregularities.

Political Blasts Within AAP

While Saurabh Bharadwaj has been the focal point under the ED radar, the investigation also covers former health minister Satyendar Jain, who already faces several charges of corruption.

AAP, however, firmly rejected the allegations. Top party leader Manish Sisodia came out in support of Bharadwaj, stating:

“Saurabh Bharadwaj was not even the minister then. This is a doctored case. Similar to Satyendar Jain’s doctored cases, this one is also politically motivated.”

The party has described ED action as another example of the ruling establishment harassing AAP leaders with an aim to defame itself before crucial political battles.

ED Tightens the Noose

Sources within the agency hinted that the investigation could soon expand to include top bureaucrats and private contractors associated with the hospital projects. With irregularities running into thousands of crores, the case has the potential to become one of the biggest corruption scandals in Delhi’s healthcare sector.

What Lies Ahead?

The ED raids have also created a political controversy, with AAP accusing a witch-hunt and opposition parties seeking accountability of public funds. With more than ₹5,590 crore in public money under the scanner, the case has already lit up a heated debate on corruption, governance, and health priorities in the capital.

Whether the raids lead to a major scandal or turn out to be a political flashpoint like any other, only time will tell. Till then, the focus remains solidly on Saurabh Bharadwaj and the AAP government hospital projects—projects that were to save lives but are now tainted with suspicion.