The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted raids at the residence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj in Delhi in relation to an alleged "hospital construction scam" while he was serving as the health minister.
Reports confirmed the agency raided over a dozen places in the national capital.
Reports suggest the supposed scam is associated with projects valued at approximately ₹5,590 crore. During 2018–2019, proposals for the construction of 24 hospitals were cleared by the AAP government in Delhi. The ICU building was to be completed within half a year, but after three years, the project is still incomplete.
Though a cost of almost ₹800 crore was incurred, half of the work has thus far been accomplished, sources further added. The project cost at LNJP Hospital is said to have increased to ₹1,135 crore from ₹488 crore, with minimal visible work.
Investigations also allege that construction was initiated at various places without approval, and the contractors' role has been questioned. The Hospital Information Management System (HIMS), which has been pending since 2016, is also in the dock with allegations of willful delay.
Along with Bharadwaj, senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain is also under the scanner in the case.
"Saurabh Bharadwaj was not the minister at the time when this is the case," said AAP leader Manish Sisodia. "This whole case is false. It is clear from Satendar Jain's case that false cases were made against AAP leaders."
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