New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted raids at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj's residence in Delhi in the alleged hospital construction scam. The federal probe agency also raided dozens of other locations in connection with the alleged scam.
The raids were reportedly conducted under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Notably, the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) had earlier flagged irregularities in the construction of hospitals when the AAP was in power.
ED Officials Outside Bhardwaj's House:
The alleged scam is reported to be around 5,500 crore. According to reports, in 2018–19, the then AAP government had sanctioned Rs 5,590 crore for the construction of 24 hospitals. As per the plan, ICU hospitals were supposed to be completed within six months. However, even after three years, the construction was not completed, and around 50 per cent of the funds which sanctioned were reportedly utilised.
AAP's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal lashed out at the Centre for ED raids at former Delhi minister's residence. “The ED raid at Saurabh Bharadwaj's house is another case of the Modi government misusing agencies... The way "AAP" is being targeted has never been done to any party in history,” Kejriwal said.
“AAP is being targeted because it is the most vocal voice against the Modi government's wrong policies and corrupt deeds... "AAP" is not one to be scared of these BJP raids. We will continue to raise our voice against wrong policies and corruption in the interest of the country,” he added,
Meanwhile, AAP MP Sanjay Singh termed the case against Bhardwaj as "false". "Saurabh Bhardwaj has been raided by the ED, and the case is absolutely false, because he was not even a minister during the period this case refers to. It has become policy of the BJP government to frame AAP leaders in fake cases to try and make us bow down," Singh said.
Officials, privy to the development, told ANI that the operations are based on "material collected during the course of investigation and allegations as mentioned in the FIR regarding large-scale corruption and misappropriation of funds in health infrastructure projects of GNCTD.
The officials further told the news agency the search teams have covered the residential premises of Bhardwaj as well as the offices and residences of the private contractors involved in the projects.
The ED is investigating financial transactions and suspected diversion of funds allocated for the construction of the Delhi hospital, said the officials. "The case stems from allegations that contracts were manipulated and funds misused, causing delays and cost escalations in crucial health infrastructure construction," the officials said.
Bhardwaj is a senior AAP leader and the MLA from the Greater Kailash assembly constituency. served as Delhi's Health Minister during a period when the Delhi government-led by Arvind Kejriwal announced ambitious plans to expand healthcare capacity.
