New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out searches at multiple locations, including the home of senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, as part of a probe into alleged financial irregularities in hospital construction projects sanctioned during the AAP government’s tenure.
According to officials, the raids were conducted at 13 premises in Delhi and nearby areas in connection with a money laundering investigation. The agency has not yet released information regarding seizures or specific evidence recovered during the operation.
Bharadwaj, a three-time legislator from Greater Kailash, has previously handled portfolios such as Health, Urban Development, and Water. He has also served as the chairperson of the Delhi Jal Board and is one of AAP’s prominent spokespersons.
The case stems from a complaint filed in August 2024 by then Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta. The complaint alleged widespread corruption in the sanctioning and execution of 24 hospital projects valued at around ₹5,590 crore between 2018 and 2019. The projects involved the construction of 11 new hospitals and the expansion of 13 existing facilities.
Investigators have pointed to prolonged delays, inflated costs, and suspected diversion of funds. Despite significant budgetary allocations, none of the hospitals were completed on schedule. One of the key initiatives — the ₹1,125 crore Intensive Care Unit Hospital Project intended to add 6,800 beds across seven modular facilities — remains only partially finished despite heavy expenditure.
Following approval under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Anti-Corruption Bureau had earlier registered a case against Bharadwaj and former health minister Satyendar Jain. The allegations include irregular budget revisions, misuse of taxpayer money, and collusion with private contractors.
The ED’s action marks another escalation in the ongoing scrutiny of infrastructure projects undertaken during the AAP government, raising questions about governance, accountability, and the management of public resources.
