The Enforcement Directorate has lodged three Enforcement Case Information Reports under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, covering alleged irregularities worth ₹6,368 crore involving hospital construction, CCTV installation and shelter homes during Aam Aadmi Party rule in Delhi. Senior Party figures Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain are reportedly under scrutiny and may be summoned for questioning.
The most substantial allegation centres on ₹5,590 crore earmarked for 24 hospital projects in 2018–19. Anti‑Corruption Branch and ED investigators raise concerns of cost escalations—such as Lok Nayak Hospital’s new block surging from ₹488 crore to ₹1,135 crore—and unexplained delays, with ICU facilities only half‑completed despite spending ₹800 crore against a six‑month timeline. Projects labelled greenfield and brownfield remain incomplete, with polyclinics also stalled amid rising expenses.
A second case involves a ₹571 crore CCTV‑camera contract from 2019, awarded to Bharat Electronics Limited. ED alleges a ₹7 crore bribe linked to Satyendar Jain in return for waiving a ₹17 crore penalty imposed on the firm for delays. Investigators argue the penalty’s cancellation lacked justification, suggesting abuse of office.
The third ECIR cites ₹207 crore misappropriated via fake fixed deposit receipts in Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board transactions, along with a separate ₹15 lakh road project in Patel Nagar. These allegations add to an expanding list of AAP‑era investigations, which already include classroom and sewage‑treatment plant probes.
Both Bharadwaj and Jain were earlier named in ACB corruption complaints, with central government approval obtained under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act to launch deeper inquiries. The ACB initiated action following a BJP‑led complaint from August 2024, noting prima facie evidence of cost inflation, deliberate stalling of projects and fund misallocation.
Jain, 60, a former Health Minister and veteran AAP leader, had previously been arrested by ED in May 2022 in a hawala and disproportionate‑assets matter. He has since spent over two years in custody, although he secured bail in October 2024. AAP sources have denounced this process as politically motivated, with Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh accusing central authorities of deploying investigative agencies against the Party.
Bharadwaj, also a Former Health Minister, was considered relatively unblemished amid political rivalry until these allegations surfaced. His role, alongside Jain’s, is now under review in both hospital‑project and CCTV‑contract cases.
Delhi’s Lieutenant‑Governor, V K Saxena, granted sanction for ACB investigation, a step preceding formal ED involvement. The ED’s ECIRs suggest a money‑laundering dimension to the alleged corruption, enabling a deeper probe into financial trails, questionable contractor links and potential misuse of public funds.
ED sources indicate that summons may be issued shortly, with raids and asset seizure proceedings likely to follow, given the scale of the allegations. The case notably amplifies scrutiny on AAP, whose previous legal entanglements include the classroom and Jal Board sewage‑plant scams involving other senior leaders such as Manish Sisodia.
Political observers suggest the unfolding saga could significantly affect Delhi’s upcoming electoral contests. AAP supporters argue allegations are “weaponised” to stymie governance efforts, while opponents claim the latest ECIRs confirm systemic financial mismanagement during the Party’s tenure.
Central to the probe will be financial records concerning hospital tenders, CCTV procurement files and shelter board deposits. ED investigators are expected to scrutinise pay‑offs, approvals for penalty waivers and documentation supporting infrastructure costs. Cross‑verification with CAG audits and internal project data will be essential to establish whether procedural lapses were innocuous or deliberately orchestrated for personal gain.
As the investigation advances, political accountability, administrative transparency and legal outcomes will determine consequences. Meanwhile, AAP leaders insist on full cooperation with authorities, maintaining that no wrongdoing has been committed and no convictions have been secured to date.
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