Hospitals Scam: FIR Filed Against Ex-Delhi Ministers Jain & Bharadwaj

Officials gave this information on Thursday. The case has been registered a few days after the Union Home Ministry gave approval to conduct an inquiry by the ACB against former Delhi health ministers Bhardwaj and Jain under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

AAP raised questions against Bhardwaj and Jain
The Aam Aadmi Party raised the question as to why the FIR against Bhardwaj and Jain is being kept hidden, while selective press notes are being leaked to the media. AAP said that is the FIR so baseless that the BJP fears that if it is made public, it will become a national joke?

What did Police Commissioner Madhur Verma say?

Madhur Verma, joint commissioner of police in the ACB, said the FIR was registered under section 13(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act as well as sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant or banker, merchant or agent), 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code against Bhardwaj, Jain, unknown government officials and private contractors. He said a comprehensive investigation has been launched to unravel the alleged conspiracy and determine the role and accountability of former ministers, officials and private entities involved in it.

Allegation of collusion

He said Bhardwaj and Jain were named in the complaint. They were accused of manipulating project budgets, misusing public money and colluding with private contractors. The allegations were that 24 hospital projects worth Rs 5,590 crore were approved during 2018-2019. However, these projects remained largely incomplete. The cost of these projects escalated significantly.

Accused of misuse of agencies
Verma said in a statement that serious violations of rules, tender conditions and financial protocols were revealed during the investigation. Which includes deliberate delays, increase in project cost, rejection of viable alternatives and creation of idle assets. This collectively caused huge loss to the government exchequer. AAP accused the misuse of agencies to defame their leaders.

What did the ACB admit in its documents?
Citing official records, AAP said that the ACB has admitted in its documents. The projects which have been questioned. They were approved in 2017-18. The Health Information Management System (HIMS) was announced in 2016-17, which is several years before Bhardwaj took over in 2023.