Centre nod for probe on Bharadwaj, Jain

Hospital projects under scanner

- Hemani Bhandari

NEW DELHI: The Centre, on recommendation of Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, has granted sanction to the Delhi government's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) to investigate former health ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The investigation will examine alleged financial irregularities, construction delays, and inflated costs in the development of 24 Delhi government hospitals in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

Officials familiar with the matter said that ACB sought the Centre's sanction in August 2024 following a complaint filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Vijender Gupta, who alleged "large-scale corruption" in the city's health infrastructure projects.

The LG forwarded the request to the Union government on May 6, 2025.

The AAP responded by calling the move a politically motivated "farce," while Bharadwaj said the probe into his role, despite his appointment as health minister after the approvals, was "ridiculous and desperate."

In the case of allegations against former ministers, the ACB sends the proposal to initiate an inquiry to the LG's office, which then is forwarded to the ministry of home affairs for their approval.

After the MHA's assent, the LG communicates the same to the ACB, allowing for a case to be registered.