Ex-Delhi DGHS chief arrested over alleged multi-crore scam involving ORS and X-ray machines
The Delhi Government's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has arrested former Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Vatsala Aggarwal in connection with an alleged multi-crore procurement scam involving medicines, medical equipment, and surgical supplies.
The arrest comes just days after the ACB detained Dr Vijay Kumar Ranga in the same investigation. A Delhi court had subsequently remanded him to four days of police custody.
According to investigators, the case centres on alleged financial irregularities in procurements carried out by the Central Procurement Agency (CPA), which functions under the DGHS.
The investigation was launched after the Directorate of Vigilance flagged suspected violations in procurement procedures and financial transactions.
The ACB alleges that several medical items, including portable X-ray machines, C-arm radiological equipment, anaesthesia workstations, bed sheets, linen, oral rehydration solution (ORS), medicines and surgical consumables, were purchased at significantly inflated prices.
Officials claim procurement rules were manipulated by framing tender specifications that allegedly favoured select vendors while keeping other eligible bidders out of the process. The agency believes the alleged irregularities caused losses worth hundreds of crores of rupees to the public exchequer.
Based on the findings, the ACB registered an FIR on June 2 under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and criminal conspiracy sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Investigators are now examining procurement files, tender documents and related records to establish the extent of the alleged fraud.
Dr Aggarwal was removed from the DGHS post in May and placed on awaiting posting before being transferred to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital.
She was later suspended following directions from Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu to facilitate disciplinary proceedings.
The Delhi Government has also suspended five pharmacists and two officials of the Central Procurement Agency after an internal inquiry reportedly found serious lapses in the procurement, storage and inventory management of medicines.
The ACB said the investigation remains ongoing and that the role of additional government officials, procurement authorities and private suppliers is being examined.