The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted raids at the residence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj in connection with an alleged hospital construction scam.
The raids form part of a larger money laundering investigation into corruption and misappropriation of funds in Delhi’s health infrastructure projects.
Bharadwaj, the MLA from Greater Kailash and a prominent face of AAP, has previously held key portfolios including Health, Urban Development, and Water, and also served as Chairman of the Delhi Jal Board. Known as one of the party’s key spokespersons, his name has now surfaced in the high-profile case.
According to the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), Bharadwaj and fellow AAP leader and former Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain have been booked under corruption charges related to health projects.
The ACB said:
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24 hospital projects — 11 greenfield and 13 brownfield — were sanctioned in 2018–19 at a cost of Rs 5,590 crore.
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These projects have suffered from major delays and cost escalations.
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The probe uncovered “massive irregularities, unexplained delays, and significant financial embezzlement.”
The agency alleged that funds meant for the construction of hospitals, polyclinics, and ICU wings were siphoned off, pointing to large-scale corruption.
An official statement noted that the case was registered after receiving approval under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The complaint that triggered the case was filed on August 22, 2024, by Vijender Gupta, then Leader of Opposition in Delhi, who highlighted “grave irregularities” in hospital projects under the Delhi government.
Pattern of Raids Against AAP Leaders
This is the latest in a series of ED actions against AAP leaders. Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and ex-CM Arvind Kejriwal faced raids in the Delhi excise policy case, while Satyendar Jain was raided over the Jal Board scam. Similarly, Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan was investigated in a money laundering case.
With Bharadwaj now under the scanner, the list of AAP leaders facing enforcement action continues to grow, further escalating the political storm surrounding the party.
