Latest news with #Anti-CorruptionBranch
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
L-G orders probe into ‘₹145-cr. coaching scam' during AAP rule
Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Wednesday said Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) V.K. Saxena has directed the Anti-Corruption Branch to investigate an alleged ₹145-crore scam by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) under the Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana, a scheme meant to provide free coaching to marginalised students. Addressing a joint press conference with Social Welfare Minister Ravinder Indraj Singh, Mr. Sood said that the AAP government indulged in corruption during the COVID-19 period, using a scheme meant for students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) as a cover for massive financial irregularities. Mr. Sood said the scheme had originally promised free coaching for SC/ST students for exams such as UPSC, NEET, and JEE. 'But unfortunately, AAP leaders indulged in corruption... This is not only an insult to Babasaheb's vision but also a betrayal of thousands of students who relied on this scheme to shape their future,' he said, vowing that the culprits will not be spared. Citing data, the Minister said that while 4,900 students were enrolled in 2018 and 2,071 in 2019, the number of students claimed to have been coached between July 2021 and August 2022 shot up dramatically. Despite the scheme's original budget of ₹15 crore, coaching institutes submitted claims worth ₹145 crore. 'Fake bills' Mr. Sood alleged that although data was submitted for nearly 13,000 students, only 3,000 could be verified, with no supporting documents found for the rest. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta echoed the allegations in a post on X, claiming that 'serious financial misconduct' had occurred in 2020-21. 'The budget of this scheme was only ₹15 crore, but the AAP government forwarded files with fake bills exceeding ₹142 crore,' she wrote. She also alleged that claims were submitted without supporting documents, applications lacked signatures, and some institutions raised 100% claims in the names of Dalit students who never actually received coaching. 'AAP has insulted the ideals of Babasaheb and tainted the sacred field of education,' Ms. Gupta said, asserting that the Anti-Corruption Branch would investigate the case thoroughly and bring the guilty to justice. The L-G's office is yet to issue an official statement. The schemewas launched in 2018 to support students from SC, ST, and OBC communities with an annual family income of less than ₹8 lakh. It aimed to provide free coaching for competitive exams like engineering, medicine, and civil services, with the Delhi government covering the fees. AAP response In a sharp rebuttal, AAP issued a statement and urged the BJP to 'move beyond rhetoric' and vendetta campaigns and focus on governance. 'They have shut down a functioning model. The electricity, the health services, the education reforms –all halted. Instead of working, BJP leaders spend their days abusing AAP and Arvind Kejriwal. They have no vision, no plan,' it said. AAP challenged the BJP to inspect all aspects of its infrastructure. 'Check every brick in Delhi's schools, every needle in our Mohalla Clinics. Check the buses, the hospitals – check it all. But after you're done with your witch-hunt, start doing some real work,' the party said.
Hindustan Times
30-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Suspended Delhi govt official, pvt contractor arrested for ₹4.6 crore scam
The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has arrested a suspended executive engineer of the Delhi government's Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department and a private contractor for allegedly stealing more than ₹ 4.6 crore public funds meant for a civic project in Siraspur, north Delhi, police said on Monday. The ACB probe began after a tip-off to the I&FC department's vigilance branch, after which a physical verification of multiple projects was undertaken. (Representational image) The accused were identified as Gagan Kureel, the executive engineer under suspension since December 2023, and Arun Gupta, a proprietor of Baba Construction Pvt Ltd. 'The two were arrested after a probe revealed fraudulent disbursal of payments for road and drain works that were never executed,' said joint commissioner of police (ACB) Madhur Verma. The ACB probe began after a tip-off to the I&FC department's vigilance branch, after which a physical verification of multiple projects was undertaken. The inspection team found that the roads and reinforced cement concrete (RCC) drains billed and paid for existed only on paper, police said. 'In four separate tenders, officials disbursed the entire project cost of ₹ 4.6 crore even though no physical work was executed,' said Verma. During the probe, officials allegedly found that Baba Construction was paid ₹ 4.2 crore out of sanctioned contracts worth ₹ 5.3 crore and no work was executed. In Burari, another contractor, Amba Construction, received ₹ 43.74 lakh over and above the sanctioned contract of ₹ 38.98 lakh for repair and painting works that were never carried out, police said. ACB officials said the contractors submitted fake performance bank guarantees of ₹ 2.24 crore, which were accepted without verification. These documents were later found to be coloured photocopies not issued by any bank, police said. Police said that the original Computerised Measurement Books (CMBs) were missing and the executive engineer was evasive when questioned. 'Mandatory tests and checks were not conducted which indicates deliberate bypassing of protocol,' Verma said. Kureel, who was posted in the CD-7 Division of the I&FC department, and Gupta, were taken into custody following the registration of a first information report under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code including cheating, criminal conspiracy, and forgery as well as the Prevention of Corruption Act after obtaining prior sanction under Section 17A of the amended anti-corruption law. 'The investigation is ongoing to identify the involvement of other public officials and private individuals who may be complicit in the scam. Further arrests and departmental actions are likely as more evidence emerges,' Verma said.
Hans India
28-06-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Transaction adviser being appointed for PPP model in 11 hospitals
New Delhi: Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said on Friday that the government is working to introduce the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in 11 hospitals and a transaction adviser is being appointed for the purpose. Speaking to reporters after an inspection at Bawana's Maharshi Valmiki hospital, Singh said the government is committed to implementing the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and address concerns of patients and the doctors. 'We have come across some lapses and shortcomings at Maharshi Valmiki Hospital and I have ordered their resolution within 15 days,' said Singh. He claimed that the Health Department was on the path of recovery after suffering due to mismanagement of the previous AAP government. The Health Minister pointed to delays in construction of an operation theatre at the hospital which has not been completed for over a year, problems with civil works, and shortage of staff. The Delhi Health Minister's visit to the hospital comes a day after the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) booked former health ministers and AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain for alleged corruption in health infrastructure projects involving 24 hospitals and expenditure of Rs 5,590 crore by the Delhi Government. A cheating, breach of trust and conspiracy case was registered after the Centre, on the recommendation of Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, granted sanction for proceedings against the previous government's minister under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The financial embezzlement linked to the projects, mired in inexplicable delays and astronomical cost overruns, took place in 2018-19, said the official. Massive irregularities, unexplained delays, and significant misappropriation of funds have been found in the construction of various hospitals, polyclinics and ICU infrastructure across the city, said an investigator. Substantial deviations and cost escalations, amounting to several hundred crores, were observed. Not a single project was completed within the prescribed timeline, said the complaint filed on August 22 by the then Leader of Opposition, Vijender Gupta. Gupta had highlighted grave irregularities and suspected corruption in various health infrastructure projects under the GNCTD. The complaint named former Health Ministers Bharadwaj and Jain, alleging systematic manipulation of project budgets, misuse of public funds, and collusion with private contractors.
Hans India
27-06-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Transaction adviser being appointed for PPP model in 11 hospitals: Delhi Minister
New Delhi: Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said on Friday that the government is working to introduce the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in 11 hospitals and a transaction adviser is being appointed for the purpose. Speaking to reporters after an inspection at Bawana's Maharshi Valmiki hospital, Singh said the government is committed to implementing the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and address concerns of patients and the doctors. 'We have come across some lapses and shortcomings at Maharshi Valmiki Hospital and I have ordered their resolution within 15 days,' said Singh. He claimed that the Health Department was on the path of recovery after suffering due to mismanagement of the previous AAP government. The Health Minister pointed to delays in construction of an operation theatre at the hospital which has not been completed for over a year, problems with civil works, and shortage of staff. The Delhi Health Minister's visit to the hospital comes a day after the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) booked former health ministers and AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain for alleged corruption in health infrastructure projects involving 24 hospitals and expenditure of Rs 5,590 crore by the Delhi Government. A cheating, breach of trust and conspiracy case was registered after the Centre, on the recommendation of Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, granted sanction for proceedings against the previous government's minister under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The financial embezzlement linked to the projects, mired in inexplicable delays and astronomical cost overruns, took place in 2018-19, said the official. Massive irregularities, unexplained delays, and significant misappropriation of funds have been found in the construction of various hospitals, polyclinics and ICU infrastructure across the city, said an investigator. Substantial deviations and cost escalations, amounting to several hundred crores, were observed. Not a single project was completed within the prescribed timeline, said the complaint filed on August 22 by the then Leader of Opposition, Vijender Gupta. Gupta had highlighted grave irregularities and suspected corruption in various health infrastructure projects under the GNCTD. The complaint named former Health Ministers Bharadwaj and Jain, alleging systematic manipulation of project budgets, misuse of public funds, and collusion with private contractors.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
ACB Files Case Against AAP's Jain, Bharadwaj
New Delhi: The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has registered a case against former health ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain, besides some govt officials and private contractors, alleging large-scale corruption in Delhi govt's health infrastructure projects. The investigation is claimed to have revealed massive irregularities, unexplained delays and significant misappropriation of funds in the construction of various hospitals, polyclinics and ICU infrastructure across the city. ACB is in the process of sending summons to the two former AAP ministers as well as a few govt officers of the health and PWD departments, proprietors of two private firms, contractors and some private individuals, according to sources. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The FIR filed by the agency reveals systematic manipulation of project budgets, misuse of public funds and collusion with private contractors. "Substantial deviations and cost escalations, amounting to several hundred crores, were observed. Not a single project was completed within the prescribed timeline. Serious violations of rules, tender conditions and financial protocols were uncovered during scrutiny, revealing deliberate delays, inflated project costs, rejection of viable alternatives, and the creation of idle assets -- collectively leading to massive losses to the public exchequer," ACB said in its statement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The probe began last year after a complaint was filed by Vijender Gupta, the then Leader of Opposition, on Aug 22, 2024, alleging irregularities and suspected corruption in various health infrastructure projects. According to ACB, 24 hospital projects worth Rs 5,590 crore were sanctioned in 2018-19, but these were plagued by inexplicable delays and astronomical cost overruns, indicating massive financial embezzlement. "Similarly, 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 crore, despite an initial six-month completion timeline," ACB said. The probe claimed to have revealed unauthorised additional construction at govt 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 competent authorities. Notably, the Madipur hospital project was to be completed by Nov 2022, but remains abandoned and far from completion, states the FIR. Further, it was revealed that the seven ICU hospitals, contracted to M/s SAM India Buildwell Pvt Ltd, witnessed cost escalations exceeding 100%, with construction still incomplete well beyond the deadline of Feb 2022. "The new block at LNJP Hospital, awarded to M/s Swadeshi Civil Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, saw project costs escalate from Rs 488 crore to Rs 1,135 crore over four years, with the structure still incomplete beyond its Jan 2023 deadline," the FIR added. Additionally, the polyclinic project also indicated misuse of funds -- only 52 out of 94 planned clinics were constructed, while the cost rose from Rs 168 crore to Rs 220 crore. Many of these polyclinics remain non-functional, ACB said. "Despite a public announcement in 2016–17, the Health Information Management System (HIMS) -- a crucial tool for ensuring financial transparency in the health department -- remained unimplemented. A free, cost-effective solution from NIC (e-Hospital) was deliberately rejected without justification," ACB said. Based on the findings, a proposal seeking prior approval under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act was submitted against the former health ministers. The FIR was filed after an approval was received from lieutenant governor V K Saxena. "Accordingly, FIR No. 37/2025 dated June 26, 2025 under Section 13(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, read with Sections 409, 420, and 120-B of IPC, has been registered against Saurabh Bharadwaj, Satyendar Jain, yet to be identified govt officials, and private contractors. 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," ACB added.
