Today, on 22nd August 2024, a delegation of MLAs led by the Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Vijender Gupta, met with the Head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Madhur Verma, to formally submit a complaint demanding an immediate and thorough investigation into the widespread corruption within the Delhi Health Department. The delegation included prominent MLAs Abhay Verma,  Ajay Mahawar, Anil Bajpai, O.P. Sharma, and Jitender Mahajan. The complaint highlights the rampant financial misconduct and systemic corruption that has taken root under the current Health Minister,  Saurabh Bhardwaj, and the former Health Minister, Satyendra Jain. The scale of the corruption is staggering, with numerous projects in the Health Department being delayed, budgets inflated, and public funds siphoned off in a deliberate and organized manner. The complaint outlined a disturbing pattern of financial mismanagement, deliberate delays, and budget manipulations, all designed to facilitate the large-scale embezzlement of public funds meant for the welfare of Delhis citizens. Between 2018-19, the Delhi Health Department sanctioned 24 hospital projects, comprising 11 greenfield and 13 brownfield projects, with a total budget of Rs. 5,590 crore. Despite the substantial funds allocated, these projects have seen unexplained delays and exorbitant cost overruns. Among these, the construction of 7 ICU hospitals with a combined bed capacity of 6,800, sanctioned at Rs. 1,125 crore, is particularly concerning. These hospitals, designed as pre-engineered structures for swift completion within 6 months from September 2021, remain only 50% complete after three years. Shockingly, over Rs. 800 crore of public money is at risk of being completely wasted due to poor planning and deliberate negligence.

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