Ex-Delhi Health Ministers Saurabh Bhardwaj, Satyendra Jain Booked In Hospital Scam Case

Delhi's ACB filed a corruption case against ex-Health Ministers Saurabh Bhardwaj and Satyendra Jain, approved under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Saurabh Bhardwaj and Satyendra Jain.

Source : PTI

The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), Delhi, has registered a case against former Health Ministers of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD), Saurabh Bhardwaj and Satyendra Jain, in connection with large-scale corruption in health infrastructure development. According to news agency ANI, a case against them has been filed after receiving approval from the competent authority under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

On August 22, 2024, a complaint was filed by the then LoP and current Delhi Assembly Speaker, Vijender Gupta, highlighting grave irregularities and suspected corruption in various health infrastructure projects, alleging systematic manipulation of project budgets, misuse of public funds, and collusion with private contractors. It was alleged that during 2018–2019, 24 hospital projects worth Rs 5,590 crores were sanctioned. These projects remained largely incomplete, with substantial and unexplained cost escalations. The Rs 1,125 crore ICU Hospital Project, covering seven pre-engineered facilities with a total of 6,800 beds, remains only 50% complete after nearly three years and expenditure of Rs 800 crores, despite an initial six-month completion timeline.

The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), Delhi, has registered a case against Saurabh Bhardwaj and Satyendra Jain, former Health Ministers, GNCTD, in connection with large-scale corruption in health infrastructure projects of the Delhi Government. 24 hospital projects – 11 greenfield…

— ANI (@ANI) June 26, 2025

News agency ANI reported that the verification of the complaint revealed unauthorised additional construction at government hospitals in Jwalapuri (by M/s Parnika Commercial & Estate Pvt Ltd) and Madipur (by M/s Ramacivil India Construction Pvt Ltd), carried out without approval from the competent authorities. The Madipur hospital project was to be completed by November 2022, but remains abandoned and far from completion.

The report further mentions that it was revealed that the 7 ICU hospitals, contracted to M/s SAM India Buildwell Pvt Ltd, have witnessed cost escalations exceeding 100%, with construction still incomplete well beyond the deadline of February 2022.

Verification also found that the New Block at LNJP Hospital, awarded to M/s Swadeshi Civil Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, saw project costs escalate from Rs 488 crores to Rs 1,135 crores over four years, with the structure still incomplete beyond its January 2023 deadline, the report further added.

FIR Filed Under Several Sections

An FIR under Section 13(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, read with Sections 409, 420, and 120-B of the IPC, has been registered at Police Station Anti-Corruption Branch, GNCTD, against Saurabh Bhardwaj, Satyendra Jain, unknown government officials, and private contractors. News agency ANI, quoting Madhur Verma, Joint Commissioner of Police, Head of Anti-Corruption Branch, reported that a comprehensive investigation has been launched to uncover the full extent of the alleged conspiracy and determine the roles and accountability of the former ministers, officials, and private entities involved.