New Delhi, 04 July (H.S.): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday accused the Delhi Government of an alleged Rs 650-crore scam in the Health Department and demanded answers from Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Health Minister Dr Pankaj Singh. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that large-scale financial irregularities had occurred in the procurement of medicines, portable X-ray machines, bedsheets, Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) packets and other medical equipment.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, Sanjay Singh alleged that appointments in the Health Department were made in violation of established norms and that procurement processes were subsequently manipulated, resulting in serious financial irregularities. He claimed that the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) FIR also contains several serious allegations and called for a fair and impartial investigation into the matter.

Sanjay Singh alleged that while tenders were initially floated for the procurement of a limited number of portable X-ray machines, the quantity was subsequently increased several times. He further claimed that machines available to other institutions at around Rs 1 lakh per unit were purchased by the Delhi Government at nearly Rs 3 lakh per unit, causing substantial losses to the public exchequer.

He also raised allegations regarding the procurement of bedsheets, claiming that hospitals purchased far more bedsheets than required for each hospital bed and that the prices paid were several times higher than prevailing market rates.

The AAP leader further alleged that ORS packets, which were available at significantly lower prices, were procured at inflated rates, claiming that goods worth around Rs 1 crore were purchased for approximately Rs 7.5 crore. He also alleged that medicines were procured at excessive prices, resulting in misuse of government funds.

Sanjay Singh further claimed that a large quantity of medicines was purchased from local chemists instead of through bulk procurement channels, which, according to him, could have substantially reduced costs.

He alleged that no political accountability has been fixed in the matter and that no action has so far been taken against any minister despite the seriousness of the allegations.

Sanjay Singh demanded that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Health Minister Dr Pankaj Singh and the concerned officials be questioned and that a fair and independent investigation be conducted. He also called for strict action against anyone found guilty.

The Delhi Government has not yet issued an official response to the allegations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar