ED Raids AAP Leader Saurabh Bharadwaj’s Residence Over Alleged Hospital Construction Scam

New Delhi, August 26: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out raids at the residence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj in the national capital, along with nearly a dozen other locations, in connection with an alleged scam in hospital construction projects during his tenure as Delhi’s Health Minister.

The action stems from a case registered by the Delhi Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), which had earlier flagged serious irregularities in the execution of hospital projects sanctioned by the AAP government. According to the ACB’s investigation, 24 hospital projects — including 11 greenfield and 13 brownfield — were approved at a cost of ₹5,590 crore in 2018–19. These projects were intended to deliver new and upgraded facilities, with ICU hospitals promised within six months. However, more than three years later, construction remained incomplete, with significant cost overruns and little progress on the ground.

Officials allege that nearly 50% of the sanctioned funds were spent despite minimal work, raising suspicions of large-scale financial embezzlement. At LNJP Hospital, for instance, the project cost reportedly escalated from ₹488 crore to ₹1,135 crore without commensurate development. In several cases, construction began without requisite approvals, contractors’ roles appeared questionable, and the proposed Hospital Information Management System (HIMS) — pending since 2016 — faced unexplained delays.

The ED suspects that these irregularities were aimed at benefitting Bharadwaj and others. The probe now focuses on both the financial anomalies and possible political-administrative collusion behind the stalled projects.

AAP’s Response

Reacting to the raids, AAP leader and former Delhi minister Atishi accused the Centre of misusing investigative agencies to target political opponents. She linked the timing of the ED’s action to the ongoing controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational qualifications.

“Why was there a raid at Saurabh ji’s residence today? Because the whole country is questioning whether Modi ji’s degree is genuine. This raid is clearly an attempt to divert attention,” Atishi said in a statement. She further added that Bharadwaj was not a minister when the projects were sanctioned, and described the case as “fabricated and politically motivated.”

She also drew parallels with former minister Satyendar Jain’s case, noting that despite his three-year imprisonment, the CBI and ED eventually submitted a closure report. “This clearly shows that cases against AAP leaders are based on lies and vendetta politics,” she asserted.